Proposed Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2027

This is a Consultation on the proposed new Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2027 to revoke and replace the existing 2020 Regulations. The proposed Regulations will reflect updates made to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (“SOLAS”) along with closing a regulatory gap in the Merchant Shipping (Bridge Visibility) (Small Passenger Ships) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2286) relating to bridge visibility standards for small domestic passenger ships, which occurred when the minimum length threshold in SOLAS Chapter V was increased. It is also proposed to amend the definition of “length” in the 2005 Regulations to “length overall” to ensure compatibility with SOLAS. The Regulations will also make some small changes to existing offences and penalties for non-compliance, as well as incorporating some drafting changes to ensure that the Regulations follow more closely the legislative structure of SOLAS Chapter V.

The department has not published a response route on GOV.UK. It is usually inside the consultation document above.

Responses close 30 September 2026.