The 2025 regulations amended several existing regulations to increase fees for environmental regulation of the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 increase hourly rates for specialist and non-specialist officers involved in environmentally regulating the offshore oil and gas industry.

These fee increases, effective immediately, apply to several existing regulations governing offshore petroleum activities, licensing, and environmental impact assessments.

The changes aim to update existing fees to better reflect the cost of providing regulatory services.

The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amended the definition of light dues, corrected a typographical error, and changed the vessel exemption criteria from length to weight.

These regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025, taking effect on March 31st, 2025.

Key changes include correcting a typographical error in the definition of "light dues" and replacing the length-based exemption criteria for certain vessels with a weight-based criteria.

This aims to improve clarity, accuracy, and potentially, simplify the application of light dues.

The 2025 regulations revoked previous light dues regulations and established a new system for calculating and collecting light dues from various vessels in UK waters.

The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025 establish the system for levying light dues on vessels in UK waters.

These regulations replace the 1997 regulations, clarifying payment methods (periodic or per voyage) for different vessel types (tugs, fishing, pleasure vessels, and others).

They specify payment amounts based on tonnage or load line length, including minimum and maximum charges.

The regulations define key terms, detail the procedure for invoicing and payment, and outline exemptions for certain vessels, such as those chartered by the Government or used for sail training.

Previous regulations are revoked.

The regulations amended the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020 and the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 to implement international safety standards for ship navigation, creating exemptions for certain vessel types.

The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2020 regulations to implement aspects of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

Key changes include altering requirements for navigational equipment on various ship types to align with international standards.

Specific exemptions were granted to certain classes of ships, and the fee schedule was updated accordingly.

The regulations improve safety at sea by harmonizing UK legislation with international requirements.