Statutory guidance

MSN 1747 (M) Amendment 1

Published 17 March 2022

Summary

This Amendment to MSN 1747(M) updates an Annex of this Statutory Notice to reflect more detailed information which has been obtained on sea states in certain areas. It also updates the MSN to reflect changes in the law and the status of the UK in relation to the EU, including updated definitions of Sea Areas.

The original MSN 1747(M) was published to fulfil an obligation required by Article 4.2 of Council Directive 98 / 18 / EC of 17 March 1998 on Safety Rules and Standards for Passenger Ships and set out the sea areas around the United Kingdom which fell within the definitions of EU Sea Areas C and D. Following departure from the EU, the UK has chosen to retain the Sea Areas to support other UK maritime legislation which refers to them, including the UK regime which stemmed from the EU Directive, and also the Small Seagoing Passenger Ships Code.

Key points

• This notice augments S.I. 2000 No. 2687 The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 (as amended).

• The boundaries of one sea area designated for Northern Ireland at the end of Annex 1 to this revised MSN have been updated. Other sea areas remain the same as those laid out in the original version of this MSN.

1. Introduction

1.1 The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”) originally implemented Council Directive 98 / 18 / EC on “Safety Rules and Standards for Domestic Passenger Ships”. Although the UK has now left the EU, the sea areas designated are still required, to enable the continued functioning of UK maritime law which references them. The definitions of Sea Areas shown in this amendment are as updated by the latest amending Directive, Directive 2017/2108/EU, and implemented by the Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020.

2. Ship classes and sea areas

2.1 These Regulations identify four domestic passenger ship classifications as follows: Classes A, B, C and D, as in the Directive. Classes B, C and D are equivalent to Class III, Class VI, and Class VI(A) passenger vessels respectively.

2.2 The Annexes to this Merchant Shipping Notice set out the geographical extent of (formerly EU) sea areas “C“ and “D“ identified as applicable in waters around the United Kingdom. These sea areas are given statutory force by way of Regulation 3(2) of the 2000 Regulations.

2.3 The Maritime & Coastguard Agency commissioned the Marine Consultancy Service of the Meteorological Office to investigate significant wave height in waters around the United Kingdom. The Report for Maritime and Coastguard Agency Research Proposal RP626 (replacing Project Report No. 422) forms the basis of this Notice. The boundaries of one sea area designated for Northern Ireland at the end of Annex 1 to this revised MSN have been updated. Other sea areas remain the same as those laid out in the original version of this MSN.

2.4 The sea area definitions were updated prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, so the sea area definitions cited in the original version of MSN 1747(M) are updated as follows to reflect this:

Sea Area C:

Sea areas where the probability of exceeding 2.5 m significant wave height is smaller than 10% over a one-year period for all year round operation, or over a specific restricted period of the year for operation exclusively in such a period (e.g. summer period operation), not more than 5 miles from the line of the coast, corresponding to the medium tide height.

Sea Area D:

Sea areas where the probability of exceeding 1.5 m significant wave height is smaller than 10% over a one-year period for all year round operation, or over a specific restricted period of the year for operation exclusively in such a period (e.g. summer period operation), and the geographical coordinates of which are at any point no more than 3 miles from the line of the coast, corresponding to the medium tide height.

2.5

(a) the term “Port Waters”, within the context of the 2000 Regulations is interpreted by the United Kingdom as having the same meaning as “categorised waters”. For the extent of Port Waters within the United Kingdom, reference should be made to MSN 1837(M) Amendment 2 - Categorisation of Waters.

(b) It is important not to confuse the categorisation of non-sea waters, as set out in MSN 1837 Amendment 2, relating to inland waterways, lakes, port waters and associated tidal rivers and estuaries, with the classification of coastal sea areas set out here in MSN 1747 Amendment 1. The former refers to Category A, B, C and D waters and the latter refers to sea areas D, C, B and A (in opposite progression of risk.

2.6 The designations shown in Annex 1 are for all of the year, those in Annex 2 for the summer, which means the months of April to October, inclusive.

More information

UK Maritime Services, Ship Standards
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/23
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0)203 81 72000 Email: dpv@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

General enquiries: infoline@mcga.gov.uk

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.

Annex 1 “ALL YEAR” operation

The following notes apply to all Tables:

1) All directions are anti clockwise unless otherwise stated.

2) Sea Areas C and D may run to seaward of categorised waters unless otherwise stated.

1. South Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Lands End to North Foreland	Nare Point to Dodman Point	Black Head to Bolt Head
	Dodman Point to Gribbin Head
	Hope’s Nose to Straight Point	Start Point to Portland Bill
	Straight Point to Beer Head
	The Nothe, Weymouth to Redcliff Point	Portland Bill to North Foreland
2. East Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
North Foreland to Duncansby Head	Forness Point to Colne Point	North Foreland to Buchan Ness
	Buckie to the Ord of Caithness	Kinnaird Head to Duncansby Head
3. North Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Duncansby Head to Cape Wrath (excluding the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Isles)	No Sea Area D	No sea Area C
4a. West Coast Cape Wrath to Mull of Kintyre (excluding the Outer Hebrides, The Small Isles, Coll, Tiree, Iona and Colonsay	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
On the mainland	Longa Island in Loch Gairloch, to An Fhaochag, (57° 04’N 005° 47.8’W) by Dun Ban Bay	Rubha Reidh (57° 51.5’N 005° 48.7’W) to Mallaig and within an area east of a line joining Point of Sleat to Ockle Point, Ardnamurcham Peninsula
		Auliston Point, Sound of Mull to Rhunahaorine Point, Kintyre, in the Sound of Gigha
On the Isle of Skye	Eilean Flodigarry clockwise to Kilbeg Point (57o 05.25’N 005o 52.2’W) including Rona, Raasay and Scalpy	Waternish Point clockwise to Strathaird Point / Rubha nah- Easgainne (57° 07.6’N 006° 05.0’W)
On Jura and Islay:	No Sea Area D	Northernmost point on Aird of Kinuachdrachd, Jura (56o 07.8’N 005° 41.2’W) clockwise to Ardmore Point, Islay
4b. West Coast Mull of Kintyre to Lands End	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
On the mainland	No Sea Area D	Carradale Point clockwise to Corsewall Point on the Rhinns of Galloway
		Corsewall Point on the Rhinns of Galloway to Carmel Head on the Isle of Anglesey
On the Isle of Arran	No Sea Area D	Whitefarland Point clockwise to Dippen Head
In cardigan Bay	No Sea Area D	St Tudwal’s Island to Strumble Head
In the Bristol Channel	Mumbles Head to Foreland Point	Caldey Island to Hartland Point
5. The Orkney Islands	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	Within a line from:- Start Point, Sanday to Burgh Head, Stronsay
		Lamb Head, Stronsay to Auskerry Light to Point of Ayre, Deerness
		The Causeways connecting the Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay
		Hoxa Head, South Ronaldsay to Stanger Head, Flotta to Cantick Head, South Walls
		Bu Point, Hoy to Point of Oxan, Graemsay to the Ness, Stromness
		Point of Hisber, Mainland to Moa Ness, Rousay
		Saviskaill Head, Rousay to Point of Huro, Westray
		Weather Ness, Westray to Red Head, Eday to Whale Point, Sanday
6. The Shetland Isles	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	Within a straight line from:- Blue Mull, Unst to Papil Ness, Yell
		Heoga Ness, Yell to Funzie Ness, Fetlar
		Strandburgh Ness, Fetlar to The Nev, Unst
7. The Outer Hebrides	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
In the Little Minch		Tolsta Head, the Isle of Lewis to Rubha Mhic Gille-mhicheil, North Uist
Isle of lewis	From Chicken Head on the Eye Peninsula to Kebock Head
Isle of Harris	Within an area west of a line joining Rubh Uisenis to Rubha Bhocaig
The Small Isles	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
Coll and Tiree	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
Iona	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
Colonsay	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
8. The Scilly Isles	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
9. Northern Ireland	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Mainland	No Sea Area D	No limits (within definition of Sea Area C)
On Rathlin Island	No Sea Area D	From Bull Point anticlockwise to Rue Point

Annex 2 “ Summer Only” Operation (April to October inclusive)

The following notes apply to all Tables:

1) All directions are anti clockwise unless otherwise stated.

2) Sea Areas C and D may run to seaward of categorised waters unless otherwise stated.

1. South Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Lands End to North Foreland	Black Head to Rame Head	Tater-du, Cornwall to North Foreland passing to the south of the Isle of Wight
	Berry Head to Blacknor Point, Portland
	Grove Point, Portland to Rope Lake Head
	Anvil Point / Durlston Head to Category D waters in Western Solent (Hurst Point)
	From Category D waters in the Eastern Solent to Selsey Bill
	Selsey Bill to Newhaven
	Easternmost Martello Tower, Pevensey Bay (50° 49.3’N 000o 23.3’E) to North Foreland
2. East Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
North Foreland to Duncansby Head	North Foreland to (the harbour at) Southwold	North Foreland to Duncansby Head
	Gibraltar Point to Flamborough Head
	Hartlepool to Seaton Point (Northumberland)
	Fast Castle Head to Buchan Ness
	Scar Nose, Banffshire to Clyth Ness, Caithness
3. North Coast	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Duncansby Head to Cape Wrath	No Sea Area D	Duncansby Head to Faraid Head, Caithness
4a. West Coast Cape Wrath to Mull of Kintyre (excluding the Outer Hebrides, The Small Isles, Coll, Tiree, Iona and Colonsay	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
On the Mainland	Rubha Reidh (57° 51.6’N 005° 48.7’W) to Rubha Reamhar, Mallaig (56° 59.4’N 005° 50.5’W	Cape Wrath to Rubha Aird Druimnich (56° 47.1’N 005° 57.9’W) Loch Ceann Traigh, Ardnamurchan
	Auliston Point, Sound of Mull to Rhunahaorine Point, Kintyre including Lismore, Kerrera, Seil, Luing	Sròn Bheag(56° 41’N 006° 08.6’W) Ormsaigmore, on the south side of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula to Pendene, Cornwall, including Ghiga, the Isle of Arran and Anglesey
On the Isle of Skye	Waternish Point clockwise to Rubha Phoil (57o 03.6’N 005o 53.6’W), Armadale including Rona, Raasay and Scalpy	Neist Point, clockwise to Point of Sleat and within an area east of a line from Point of Sleat to Rubha nah-Easgainne (57 o 07.6’N 006 o 05.0’W)
On the Isle of Mull	Rubba nan Gall,Tobermory, clockwise to Rudha Dubh, Loch Buie, Mull	Ardmore Point clockwise to Rudha Ardalanish on the Ross of Mull
On Jura	Northern most point on Aird of Kinuachdrachd, Jura
	(56o 07.8’N 005 o 41.2’W) clockwise in the Sound of Jura and west in the Sound of Islay to Carraigh an t- Sruith, north of the Feolin Ferry
On Islay	Rubha a’Mhail, north of the Feolin Ferry, Port Askaig south to Rubha Liath (55° 43.4’N 006° 01.7’ W)
4b. West Coast Mull of Kintyre to Lands End	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
On the Mainland	From Farland Head to the Heads of Ayr	Sròn Bheag (56° 41’N 006° 08.6’W)
	Mull of Galloway to Barsalloch Point	Ormsaigmore, on the south side of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula to Pendene, Cornwall, including Ghiga, the Isle of Arran and Anglesey
	Cairn Head to Dunrod Point, Galloway
	Hilpsford Point Cumbria to Rossal Point, Lancashire
	Stanner Point, Lancashire to Point Lynas, Anglesey
	Mochras Point, Anglesey to New Quay Head, Cardigan Bay
On the Isle of Arran	Whitefarland Point to Kingscross Point
In the Bristol Channel	Worms Head to Bull Point	No Sea Area C
5. The Orkney Islands	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	a) North and West of the Orkney Isles to the south and east of a line bounded by:- Dennis Head, North Ronaldsay to Mull Head, Papa Westray to Noup Head, Westray to Costa Head, Main land
		b) South of the Orkney Isles within a line bounded by Brough Head, Mainland to Rora Head, Hoy and within 5 miles of a line joining:-
		Rora Head, Hoy to Tor Ness, Hoy to Old Head, South Ronaldsay
		c) East of the Orkney Isles from Start Point, Sanday to within 5 miles of a line joining :- Auskerry Light to Copinsay Light to Old Head, South Ronaldsay
6. The Shetland Isles	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	a) Within a line from Lamba Ness, Unst to Head of Hosta, Fetlar to Skaw Taing, Whalsay
		Within a line from Clett Head, Whalsay to Score Head, Brassay
		Within a line from the south end of Ness of Sound, Mainland to Kirkabister Ness, Bressay
		b) St. Magnus Bay within a line from Matta Taing, Mainland to Fogla Skerry, Papa Stour to Skerry of Eshaness, Mainland
		c) Ronas Voe within a line from :- Galti Stack, Mainland to Ketligill Head, Mainland
7. The Outer Hebrides	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
In the Little Minch	Rubha an Tiumpain on the Eye Peninsula, the Isle of Lewis to the entrance to Renish Point, South Harris	The Butt of Lewis south to Ushenish, South Uist
The Small Isles	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
Coll and Tiree	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
Colonsay	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
8. The Scilly Isles	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
	No Sea Area D	No Sea Area C
9. Northern Ireland	Sea Area D	Sea Area C
Mainland	Runaby Head to Burr Point	No limits (within definition of Sea Area C)
On Rathlin Island	No sea Area D	From Bull point anticlockwise to Rue Point