UK Offence Report

The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025

UK Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 1195 — creates 1 criminal offence.

1offences created
0recorded in force
0revoked
Made
17 November 2025
In force from
12 December 2025
Extent
Not stated
Subject
Transport: maritime, aviation, rail and harbours
Made under
Merchant Shipping Act 1995, Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

These Regulations revoke and replace the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2771) to consolidate and update the requirements for vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure. These Regulations apply, with certain limited exceptions, to United Kingdom vessels and to non-United Kingdom vessels when operating from United Kingdom ports in United Kingdom waters (regulation 4). These Regulations also make consequential amendments (Schedule 1) and revocations (Schedule 2) arising from the revocation of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998. These Regulations make specific provision for large vessels (24 metres or more in length) and small vessels (less than 24 metres in length). Large vessels are made subject to requirements in Part A of the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code (“REG Code”), and small vessels made subject to requirements in the Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code (“SCV Code”). These Regulations give effect to the mandatory requirements in those Codes. These Regulations provide for the granting of exemptions (regulation 5), the approval of equivalents (regulation 6) and the granting of approvals (regulation 7). Part 2 (regulations 8 to 11) and Part 3 (regulations 12 and 13) make separate provision for the survey and certification of large and small vessels respectively. Part 4 (regulations 14 to 18) makes provision for the duration, extension, validity and cancellation of certificates in respect of large and small vessels. Part 5 (regulations 19 to 22) sets out the requirements governing large and small vessels. Regulation 19 gives effect to the REG Code and disapplies in respect of large vessels the requirements in the instruments specified in Schedule 3. Regulation 20 gives effect to the SCV Code and disapplies in respect of small vessels the requirements in the instruments specified in Schedule 4. Part 6 (regulations 23 and 24) makes provision for enforcement. Regulation 23 makes it an offence by the owner and master of a vessel to proceed to sea in contravention of any of the requirements in or under these Regulations (including the requirements in the REG and SCV Codes). Regulation 23 also makes it an offence by a person to contravene any of the prohibited acts specified in regulation 18. Regulation 24 contains power to detain vessels for breaches of requirements in or under these Regulations. The REG and SCV Codes are available from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone 020 3817 2000 and email infoline@mcga.gov.uk) and respectively on https://www.redensigngroup.org/media/yzlbtkyi/reg-yc-july-2024-edition-part-a.pdf and https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/small-craft-codes-of-practice. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum and a de minimis assessment have been prepared and are published alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.

Offences created by this instrument

What Parliament said about it

Hansard was searched for this instrument by name and returned nothing. That is the ordinary outcome: an instrument laid under the negative procedure is usually never debated, and becomes law without a word said about it in either House.

How Parliament handled it

This instrument became law without a debate or a vote. Under the negative procedure it took effect unless a motion to stop it succeeded, and none was tabled.

Procedure
Made negative — law unless a motion to stop it succeeded
Could either House amend it?
No. A statutory instrument is put to each House as a whole thing, to be approved or not. Neither House can change a word of it.
Committee
Drawn to the special attention of the Houses by a scrutiny committee

Procedural history

From Parliament's Statutory Instruments service. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

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