The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/260
• Sections: 4

Section 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 and come into force on the 22nd day after the day on which they are laid.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Section 2 Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014

(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the definition of “United Kingdom ship”—

(a) insert “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (a);

(b) omit sub-paragraph (b).

(3) In regulation 29 (crew accommodation requirements)—

(a) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) In this regulation, “ social connectivity ” means connectivity to internet services for social communication and social engagement purposes.

(b) after paragraph (2) insert—

(2A) Subject to paragraph (2B) and regulation 32 (approvals to allow substantial equivalences), social connectivity facilities must be provided in all areas of the crew accommodation of a ship except storerooms.

(2B) The requirement in paragraph (2A) does not apply—

(a) in relation to a seafarer—

(i) who does not live and work on board the ship, or

(ii) who is not on board the ship;

(b) in relation to a ship—

(i) which starts and finishes a voyage on the same day, or

(ii) while it is operating within an area, or is transiting waters in an area, where availability of social connectivity services is absent, or ineffective, due to reasons beyond the control of the ship owner.

(c) in paragraph (3), after “(2)” insert “or (2A)” .

(4) In regulation 32(1) (approvals to allow substantial equivalences), after “set out in” insert “regulation 29(2A) and” .

(5) In regulation 34 (provision of food and drinking water)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a), for “value and variety” substitute “value, variety and balance,” ;

(b) in paragraph (2), for “all seafarers while they are on board” substitute “seafarers during the period of their engagement” .

Section 3 Amendments and revocations in relation to government ships

The statutory instruments set out under column 1 of the table in Schedule 1 are amended or revoked to the extent specified under column 2 of that table.

Section 4 Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018

The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 are amended to the extent specified in Schedule 2.