Guidance

Guidance for the carriage of recognised assistance dogs (for example, guide or hearing dogs) when travelling by ship (guidance note 4)

Updated 26 January 2021

Guidance for passengers

The maritime passenger rights under Regulation (EU) 1177/2010 (incorporated into domestic UK law by section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) ensures that a passenger who relies on an assistance dog will be legally entitled to take that dog with them when travelling on a passenger ship, such as a ferry or cruise vessel. This is subject to safety conditions and applicable UK rules on the movement of animals.

A passenger who requires specific accommodation, seating or services (for themselves or their dog) should notify the ferry or cruise company when booking their ticket. Additionally, a passenger who will need assistance at the port or onboard the ship may be asked to provide the ferry or cruise company with details of that assistance prior to travel.

A passenger may seek to buy a ticket at the time when they wish to travel or may ask for assistance on arrival at the port without having done so beforehand. In such circumstances, the ferry or cruise company will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the passenger (and the assistance dog) and to provide the assistance needed.

However, if the operator requires 48 hours notice and if the passenger has not provided it, there is no guarantee that such assistance will be available.

Similarly, there is be no guarantee that specific seating or cabin accommodation needed by the passenger will be available if it has not been pre-booked. It is possible that, in such circumstances, the passenger might be unable to travel.

The passenger may also be asked for evidence that the dog (whether it is a guide dog or other assistance dog) has been appropriately trained.

If the passenger’s journey is international, their dog will be subject to animal health controls. Details are provided on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website.

Briefly, the passenger will need to ensure the assistance dog is:

• microchipped
• vaccinated against rabies
• blood tested
• accompanied by a pet passport or Third Country Veterinary Certificate
• treated for tapeworm

Other countries to which the passenger is travelling may impose their own requirements. It is the passenger’s responsibility to find out what requirements apply, and to ensure that their dog meets these requirements.

Guidance for carriers or operators

The maritime passenger rights under Regulation (EU) 1177/2010 (incorporated into domestic UK law by section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) requires the carrier or operator to allow a passenger to travel with an assistance dog.

The carrier or operator may ask the passenger to provide evidence that a dog has been properly trained as an assistance dog, but the carrier or operator should be aware that there is currently no standard certification scheme.

A carrier may refuse to embark a passenger with an assistance dog (or to accept a booking or sell a ticket) only for safety reasons – for example:

• to remain within a vessel’s passenger carrying limit
• when, in the professional judgment of the master, it would be unsafe to embark, carry or disembark a passenger on a particular sailing

On international sailings, the carrier may refuse to embark an assistance dog if animal health law so requires.

If a passenger requires assistance at the port or onboard the ship, the passenger should let the carrier or operator know, and be specific about the assistance required. The passenger should do this at the time of booking.

If less than 48 hours notice is provided by a passenger, the carrier or operator must make all reasonable effort to provide assistance; however, any such assistance cannot be guaranteed.

The carrier or operator should provide clear information on their website and other appropriate places about travelling with assistance dogs on their ships.

The carrier or operator should ensure that all onboard and shore-based personnel whose duties include providing assistance to passengers are suitably trained in handling assistance dogs.

There is no obligation to make arrangements for evacuating assistance dogs from a vessel in the event of an emergency.

Animal health rules apply to the carriage of assistance dogs on international voyages. If a carrier operates a ferry or cruise service between the UK and another country, the carrier or operator will need to have a system in place to check that all animals using their service comply with these rules.

Carriers that already transport animals will have the necessary checking arrangements in place.

Carriers that have not transported pets or assistance dogs before should contact the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) as soon as possible by emailing ahitchelmsford@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk. AHVLA will be able to provide expert advice and support to carriers undertaking these checks for the first time.

Carriers and operators will need to consider that when sailing to other countries, these other counties may impose their own specific requirements.

Annex A

Definitions and further information

A guide dog is a dog trained to provide mobility assistance to a blind or partially sighted person.

In the UK, the guide dog is trained, assessed and accredited by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Outside the UK, a guide dog is a dog trained by an individual or organisation that is accepted by and affiliated to the International Guide Dog Federation.

An assistance dog is one that has been:

• specifically trained to assist a disabled person
• qualified by one of the charitable organisations registered as members of Assistance Dogs (UK)

Assistance dogs trained by members of Assistance Dogs (UK) will have formal identification and have been granted certification by the Department of Health on the basis that the dogs high standard of training, behaviour, health and welfare are such that it should be permitted to accompany its client, owner or partner at all times and in all places within the UK.

Assistance dogs from other nations, when entering the UK, should meet the full membership criteria of the established international assistance dog organisations – Assistance Dogs International and Assistance Dogs Europe – or other such bodies as may from time to time be recognised.

The following assistance dog organisations are registered members of Assistance Dogs (UK):

• Canine Partners
• Dogs for the Disabled
• The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
• Support Dogs

Annex B

Conditions under which assistance is provided (Article 11(4))

Where a disabled person or person with reduced mobility is accompanied by a recognised assistance dog, that dog shall be accommodated together with that person, provided that the carrier, travel agent or tour operator is notified in accordance with applicable national rules on the carriage of recognised assistance dogs on board passenger ships, where such rules exist.