This statutory instrument amends existing UK maritime regulations to align with international standards set by the Maritime Labour Convention.
It directs shipowners to include the identity of a ship's registered owner on security documents and mandates that recruitment agencies inform seafarers of their rights under financial protection systems before employment begins.
The regulations apply to shipowners, registered owners, and employment agencies or businesses involved in the recruitment and placement of seafarers on sea-going ships.
Arguments For
The document states that these amendments implement changes made to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, which were approved at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference.
Proponents may argue that requiring the registered owner’s name on security documents ensures greater transparency and accountability if the registered owner differs from the shipowner.
The legislation specifies that informing work-seekers of their rights under financial systems of protection prior to engagement ensures seafarers are aware of available protections before beginning work.
The document asserts that no significant impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen, justifying the absence of a full impact assessment.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that the regulations introduce new criminal liability for employment agencies under regulation 8(1) of the Recruitment and Placement Regulations for failing to provide required information.
Affected agencies may argue that the requirement to inform work-seekers "prior to or in the process of engagement" creates an administrative burden to verify compliance for every placement.
Concerns could be raised regarding the 22-day implementation window from the date of making to the date of coming into force, which may limit the time available for agencies to update their procedural workflows.
- —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 and come into force on the 22nd day after the day on which they are made.
- (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section establishes the official title of the legislation and sets the commencement date as the 22nd day after the regulations are signed into law.
It also defines the territorial extent of the regulations, covering the entirety of the United Kingdom.
- —(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 are amended as follows.
- (2) In Schedule 3 (information to be included in a shipowner's security document), in paragraph 1(g), for 'owner of the ship' substitute 'shipowner, or of the registered owner if different from the shipowner'.
- (3) In Schedule 4 (information to be included in an abandonment security document) in paragraph 1(g), for 'owner of the ship' substitute 'shipowner, or of the registered owner if different from the shipowner'.
This section modifies the technical data requirements for mandatory maritime security documents.
It requires that both the shipowner's security document and the abandonment security document clearly identify the registered owner of the vessel if that entity is different from the shipowner.
These documents are required to be carried on board ships to prove financial security is in place for seafarer claims and potential abandonment.
- —(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014 are amended as follows.
- (2) After regulation 6 (duty on employment agencies and businesses to provide financial system of protection) insert—
' Duty on employment agencies and businesses to provide information about system of protection
- 6A. An employment agency or employment business introducing or supplying a workseeker to a hirer for the purposes of employment as a seafarer on a sea-going ship must ensure that the work-seeker is informed, prior to or in the process of engagement, of the rights which would be available to the work-seeker as a seafarer under any system of protection established under regulation 6.'.
- (3) In regulation 8(1) (offences), after '6(2)' insert ', 6A'.
This section imposes a new legal duty on employment agencies and businesses that recruit seafarers.
They must provide work-seekers with details regarding their rights under the required financial protection systems before the worker is officially engaged.
Failure by an agency to provide this information is designated as a punishable offence under existing enforcement provisions.
- —(1) The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 are amended as follows.
- (2) In Schedule 1 (fees under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995), in the table under paragraph 5 (fees for inspections, etc.) of Part 1 (surveys, inspections and applications for exemption), in section B (crew accommodation), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014, in the third column, after '2026/260' insert '2026/598'.
This section updates the fee schedule for maritime inspections conducted under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
It adds a reference to this current statutory instrument to the list of regulations under which the Secretary of State may charge fees for surveys and inspections related to crew accommodation.
Related
The Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026
Mandated the commencement of revised guidance for identifying and assessing vulnerable adults in immigration detention.
Read MoreThe English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving) Regulations 2026
Commenced provisions of the 2026 Act to implement the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections in England while exempting elections already in progress.
Read MoreThe Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Expanded the categories of individual pupil data that schools in England must record and report, including kinship care status, breakfast club attendance, and the outcomes of school exclusion reviews.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) (Emergency) (No. 2) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) (Emergency) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 have been revoked, discontinuing emergency flying limitations in the Bristol area.
Read More