Consultation on the proposed merchant shipping (radiocommunications) (amendment) regulations 2021

This consultation seeks your views on the draft merchant shipping (radiocommunications) (amendment) regulations 2021 that propose to implement an up-to-date version of chapter IV of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) into UK law and give direct effect to future changes to chapter IV by means of a power to make an ambulatory reference to those international requirements.

The 2021 regulations will amend the existing merchant shipping (radio installations) regulations 1998 to limit their application to ships engaged on domestic voyages which fall outside the scope of chapter IV.

This package of legislative changes will include the introduction of two new M-Notices; a merchant shipping notice that will revise the (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)) requirements in the 1998 regulations and a marine guidance notice that gives guidance on aspects of the application of chapter IV.

A full list of consultation questions is contained in section 5 of the consultation document.

Responses and the evaluation form are welcome from Tuesday 16th March 2021 until Tuesday 11th May 2021.