These regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025, taking effect on March 31st, 2025.
Key changes include correcting a typographical error in the definition of "light dues" and replacing the length-based exemption criteria for certain vessels with a weight-based criteria.
This aims to improve clarity, accuracy, and potentially, simplify the application of light dues.
Arguments For
Improved Clarity and Accuracy: The amendments clarify the definition of "light dues" and correct a typographical error in the original regulations, leading to less ambiguity in the application of the law.
Updated Exemption Criteria: The change to the exemption criteria for vessels based on weight instead of length aims to improve fairness and accuracy in the application of light dues, potentially simplifying the process for smaller vessels.
Streamlined Administration: By clarifying regulations, administrative burdens on both maritime businesses and regulatory bodies could potentially be lessened, making compliance easier.
Arguments Against
Unintended Consequences: While intended to improve clarity, the changes may create unforeseen consequences or lead to different interpretations, thus complicating rather than simplifying light dues application in practice.
Minimal Impact: The amendment's potential benefits might be minimal, considering the relatively minor nature of the changes. It may be seen as insignificant and not worth further action.
Resource Allocation: The effort expended on drafting, enacting, and disseminating these amendments could be perceived as a disproportionate allocation of resources compared to the potential impact.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 31st March 2025. (2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Section 1 establishes the title and effective date (March 31st, 2025) for these amendment regulations.
It also confirms their jurisdiction across the UK.
- Amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025 (1) The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025 are amended as follows. (2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), in the definition of “light dues”, for “s.205” substitute “205”. (3) In Schedule 1 (vessels exempt from light dues), for paragraph 2, substitute— “2. Ships of less than 20 tons, other than ships liable to pay light dues by reference to their length.”
Section 2 details the specific amendments.
Subsection (2) corrects a typographical error in the definition of 'light dues'.
Subsection (3) alters Schedule 1, changing the exemption criteria for light dues from vessel length to vessel weight.
The amendment replaces a previous clause defining exemption by a ship's length with a definition based on weight.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Mike Kane Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport 19th March 2025
This section provides the signature and authority for the regulations, indicating that they were authorized by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on March 19th, 2025.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/278) (the “Principal Regulations”). Regulation 1 provides that these Regulations come into force on 31st March 2025. The amendments to the Principal Regulations therefore come into effect before the Principal Regulations come into force on 1st April 2025. Regulation 2 amends Schedule 1 to the Principal Regulations. Schedule 1 specifies certain vessels which are exempt from light dues under the Principal Regulations. Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends one of these exemptions so that it is expressed by reference to the weight, rather than the length, of the vessel. Regulation 2 also corrects a minor typographical error in the Principal Regulations. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen. The Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.
The explanatory note provides a non-legally binding summary of the regulations.
It clarifies that the amendments to the primary regulations take effect before the primary regulations themselves, and it re-iterates the key changes.
Moreover, it states that a full impact assessment wasn't deemed necessary.