Open consultation

Consultation Document - Second consultation on towing guidance for offshore floating structures

Published 20 January 2026

Title

Second consultation on towing guidance for offshore floating structures

Section 1: Overview of this consultation

This is the second consultation on towing guidance for offshore floating structures. This has been commissioned due to feedback received and changes made to the original draft MGN.

The draft MGN provides information for obtaining the necessary MCA approvals for towing floating and partially submerged structures such as for use in the offshore renewable energy and aquaculture industries. It does not introduce new requirements to those already in place but is intended to direct the reader to the current relevant guidance and information.

This consultation seeks your views on the second draft of a new Marine Guidance Note (MGN) for towing floating structures for use in the offshore renewable energy and aquaculture industries.

Section 2 : Previous Consultation

The previous consultation and first draft or the MGN can be found here -

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-guidance-on-towing-requirements-for-offshore-floating-structures-excluding-oil-and-gas-infrastructure

Section 3 : Responding to this consultation

This consultation will run until midnight on 28th February 2026.

Consultation responses are to be emailed to navigationsafety@mcga.gov.uk . Any questions should also be sent to this email address.

When responding, representative groups are asked to give a summary of the people and organisations they represent, and where relevant who else they have consulted in reaching their conclusions.

Freedom of Information

Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

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 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 full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the Department/MCA.

The MCA will process your personal data in accordance with the data protection framework and in most situations this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.

Data Protection –

Details about how the MCA looks after personal data, your rights, how to complain, and how to contact our Data Protection Manager can be found on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/personal-information-charter

Section 4 - Outline of plans beyond this consultation

Once this consultation closes, we will review all responses.  In considering the responses we will apply appropriate weight to those from organisations and individuals with specialist knowledge of the subject area.

Where appropriate the draft Regulations/Guidance, accompanying guidance and impact assessment will be revised to take into consideration the consultation responses.

Section 5 – Response form

Can be found here

Section 6 – Feedback form

Can be found here