Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) (Amendment) Order 2026 and comes into force on 17th April 2026.

(2) This Order extends to, and applies in relation to, the whole of the United Kingdom.

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023

2. The Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023(2) is amended in accordance with articles 3 to 6.

Amendment of article 6 (conduct endangering watercraft, ships, structures or individuals)

3. In article 6, in the opening words, after “Section 58” insert “of the 1995 Act”.

Insertion of article 10A

4. After article 10, insert—

“Part 3A Accident investigation: watercraft

Accident investigation

10A. The following provisions of the 1995 Act apply in relation to watercraft as they apply in relation to ships—

(a)section 267 (investigation of marine accidents) as if, in subsection (2)(a)(i), the reference to a United Kingdom ship includes a reference to a watercraft eligible for registration in the United Kingdom;

(b)section 259 so far as it applies for the purposes of section 267(8).”.

Amendment of Schedule 1 (application of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 in relation to watercraft)

5. In Schedule 1—

(a)in paragraph 1(2)—

(i)after ““section 1(1) and (2)” insert “of the Act”, and

(ii)after “(1A) and (2)” insert “of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995”;

(b)omit paragraph 1(11);

(c)renumber paragraph 2(1) as paragraph 2;

(d)in paragraph 2 (as re-numbered), in sub-paragraph (b)(ii)—

(i)after “Schedule 4 to” insert “the Act”, and

(ii)after “section 313(1) of” insert “the Merchant Shipping Act 1995”.

Amendment of Schedule 2 (application of other shipping provisions in relation to watercraft)

6. In Schedule 2, after paragraph 3, insert—

Application of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012

4. The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012(3) apply in relation to watercraft as they apply in relation to ships, as if in the following provisions, any reference to a master includes a reference to any person for the time being using a watercraft—

(a)regulation 6(1);

(b)paragraphs (3) and (7) of regulation 10.”.