nautpub

for complying with the Regulations which relate to Charts and Nautical Publications. The Regulations together with these Guidelines revoke the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Nautical Publications) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No. 2647)

General

1. Regulation 1(4) allows Administrations to determine to what extent Regulations 15 to 28 apply to smaller vessels and fishing vessels. In the case of Regulation 19(2.1.4) the carriage requirements for charts and publications do not apply to United Kingdom registered vessels or other vessels in UK waters which are:

(a) less than 12 metres in registered length; or in the case of vessels which are not registered, are of less than 12 metres in length ascertained in accordance with the definition of "length" in the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Regulations 1998

(b) hovercraft with a bottom planking which is less than 12 metres in length; or

(i) Charts, as defined in Regulation 2(2) or an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to meet the requirements of Regulation 19(2.1.4) with the necessary back-up arrangements required by Regulation 19(2.1.5) and

(ii) such adequate and up to date sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and other nautical publications, as defined in Regulation 2(2) to meet the requirements of Regulation 19(2.1.4)

(iii) Nautical publications presented in digital format are acceptable when issued by or on the authority of an authorised Hydrographic office or other relevant Government institution.

(b) All sea-going passenger ships, and all other ships of 300 tons or more and all other ships required by SOLAS to carry a radio installation, shall carry the International Code of Signals published by the International Maritime Organization. (see Regulation 21)

(a) The charts or ECDIS referred to in Regulation 19(2.1.4) must be of such a scale and contain sufficient detail as clearly to show-

(i) all navigational marks which may be used by a ship when navigating the waters which are comprised in the chart,

(iii) information concerning any ships' routeing and ship reporting measures applicable to those waters.

All charts and publications must be of the latest obtainable edition and, be-kept up to date from the latest relevant obtainable notices to mariners and radio navigational warnings.

[Penalties
     7. - (1) If a ship goes to sea or on a voyage, or attempts to go to sea or on a voyage, in contravention of regulation 19(2.1.4), the owner and master shall each be guilty of an offence, and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

    (2) It shall be a defence for a person charged under these Regulations to show that he took all reasonable steps and used all due diligence to avoid commission of the offence.

Power to detain
     8. In any case where a ship does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations the ship shall be liable to be detained and section 284 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (which relates to the detention of a ship) shall have effect in relation to the ship, subject to the modification that as if for the words "this Act", wherever they appear, there were substituted the words "the Merchant Shipping (Safety of navigation) Regulations 2002".]

The following publications are considered to satisfy the requirements of Regulation 19(2.1.4)

(i) In the case of publications listed below, only those parts of the publication which are relevant to a ship's voyage and operation need be carried. For example, “The Admiralty-Kingfisher Fisherman’s Pilot” series of consolidated publications.

(ii) Where the UK Hydrographic Office – (UKHO) is given as the publisher, any other chart or publication which the MCA has agreed meets the definition in Regulation 2(2) shall be acceptable.

· Merchant Shipping Notices, Marine Guidance Notes and Marine Information Notes (MCA)

· Operating and Maintenance Instructions for Navigational Aids Carried by the Ship

GUIDELINES ON CARRIAGE OF NAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS

General