Last amended by Various Maritime Regulations in 2020. Multiple statutory instruments implementing post-Brexit maritime safety and environmental standards and bilateral agreements with EU states.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 consolidates and updates UK merchant shipping law, covering ship registration, safety, pollution prevention, seafarer employment, and maritime casualty investigation. It implements numerous international maritime conventions including SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and MARPOL (pollution prevention).
Key Points
- Establishes the UK Ship Register and registration requirements (Part II)
- Sets out safety standards for ships and offshore installations (Part III)
- Regulates seafarer employment, wages, and working conditions (Part V)
- Implements pollution prevention requirements including oil discharge offences (Part VI)
- Provides for limitation of shipowner liability under international conventions (Part VII)
- Establishes Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) powers (Part XI)
- Registration of British ships (Part II)
- Safety of ships and prevention of pollution (Parts III–VI)
- Limitation of shipowners' liability (Part VII — Convention on Limitation 1976)
- Liability for oil pollution damage (Part VI — CLC/Fund Conventions)
- Investigation of marine accidents (Part XI)
- Provisions on seafarer employment, wages, and welfare
- Wreck removal and salvage provisions
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2020 — Various Maritime Regulations
Multiple statutory instruments implementing post-Brexit maritime safety and environmental standards and bilateral agreements with EU states.