MERCHANT SHIPPING Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 14th August 2001. 2 In these Regulations “the principal Regulations ” means the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III to VI (A)) Regulations 1999 . Removal of transitional exemption from principal Regulations 2 Regulation 4(2) of the principal Regulations is hereby revoked. Restriction on power to grant exemptions in principal Regulations 3 For regulation 4(3) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following paragraphs: 3 The Secretary of State may exempt any ship or description of ships from all or any of the provisions of these Regulations (as may be specified in the exemption) if he is satisfied that: a compliance with such provision is either impracticable or unreasonable in the case of that ship or description of ships, and b the exemption is subject to such conditions and limitations as will provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the provision or provisions from which exemption is being granted. 4 The Secretary of State may, on giving reasonable notice, alter or cancel any exemption granted under paragraph (3) above. Communications equipment for Class V and VI ships 4 1 In regulation7(1)(b) of the principal Regulations, for the words “paragraphs (4) and (5)” there shall be substituted the words “paragraphs (4) to (7)”. 2 For regulation 7(6)(a) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: a if it is a ship which carries one or more open reversible liferafts, a means of communication which is portable, waterproof and capable in an emergency situation of making immediate contact with the emergency services for the area in which the ship is operating; and . 3 In regulation 8(2)(d)(i) of the principal Regulations, for the words “at least 3” there shall be substituted the words “at least 2”. General emergency alarms for Class IV , V, VI and VI(A) ships 5 1 For regulation 6(9)(a) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: a a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 2 For regulation 7(3)(b) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: b a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 3 For regulation 7(7)(i) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: i a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 4 For regulation 7(11)(i) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: i a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 5 For regulation 8(2)(e)(i) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: i a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 6 For regulation 8(3)(e)(i) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: i a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . 7 For regulation 9(2)(e)(i) of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted the following: i a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M); . Ships other than small passenger ships 6 1 The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Applicances for Ships Other Than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999 shall be amended as follows. 2 In regulation 23, for “Schedule 7” each time it occurs there shall be substituted “Schedule 8”. 3 In regulation 30(3)(d), for “ships of Classes II , VII (T)” there shall be substituted “ships of Classes VII, VII(T)”. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government, and the Regions David Jamieson Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, Local Government, and the Regions 19th July 2001