Ms Alison Leighton
Vessel Policy Branch
Bay 2/30, Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 397879
Fax: +44 (0) 02380 329104
E-mail: Alison.Leighton@mcga.gov.uk
4th September 2009
Dear Consultee
SAFETY CODE FOR PASSENGER SHIPS OPERATING SOLELY WITHIN UK CATEGORISED WATERS
1. This consultation seeks the views of industry on a new draft safety code for new passenger ships operating solely within UK categorised waters. The draft safety code has been prepared to implement the findings of the post-Marchioness Formal Safety Assessment studies and then recommendations from the Formal Investigation.
2. The new technical requirements have been developed in consultation with surveyors and industry representatives of the Domestic Passenger Ship Steering Group (DPSSG).
3. The Code will only be applicable to new ships and will replace existing legislation for Class IV and V ships. One aim of the Code is to streamline and simplify the regulations governing the safety of passenger ships operating solely in UK categorised waters by drawing all the applicable requirements together into a single document.
4. The consultation will last for a period of 12 weeks and all comments should be provided in writing by post, fax or e-mail to:-
Alison Leighton
Vessel Policy Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/30, Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8039 7879
Fax: +44 (0) 23 8032 9104
E-mail: Alison.Leighton@mcga.gov.uk
to arrive no later than 27th November 2009.
5. Responses, and any comments that the MCA has on them, will be published on the website as soon as possible after the consultation period has finished.
6. If your address details require any amendment, or you consider there are any other persons who should be consulted, please advise accordingly.
7. Electronic versions of the consultation documents can be found on the MCA Website using the following address http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/consultations/mcga-currentconsultations.htm This will open up the "Current Consultations" page on which is listed the consultation on Safety Code for Passenger Ships Operating Solely within UK Categorised Waters. Should you require paper copies of all documents, please contact Alison Leighton at the above address.
8. Information, provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the access to information regimes. These are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
9. If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please be aware that, under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with the obligations of confidence. In view of this it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take sull account of your explanation, but we cannot gice assurances that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automated confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the MCA.
10. The MCA will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act and in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.
11. This consultation is being conducted in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations. Should you have any comments or complaints about how this consultation has been conducted please direct them to the MCA's Consultation Co-ordinator:-
Consultation Co-ordinator
Office of the Chief Executive
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 3/29, Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
E-mail: Consultation.coordination@mcga.gov.uk
Yours faithfully
Ms Alison Leighton
Vessel Policy Advisor
Vessel Policy Branch
ANNEX C: Partial Impact Assessment
ANNEX D: List of Consultees
ANNEX E: Code of Practice on Consultation
ANNEX F: Consultation Feedback Form