Guidance

MIN 661 (M) Cruise restart - vessel inspection guidance

Updated 31 August 2022

This guidance was withdrawn on 15 February 2023

MIN 661 has expired.

This MIN expires on 31 December 2022

Summary

This MIN sets out the expectations for UK Expanded Inspections of Cruise vessels operating out of UK Ports with UK resident passengers on board as the industry resumes operations, when permissible, following the easing of restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

1. Introduction

1.1 Historically the MCA have conducted Expanded Inspections on cruise vessels operating out of UK Ports carrying UK resident passengers to provide a level of assurance to the travelling public. The cruise industry is looking to resume operations out of the UK as the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic reduces.

1.2 Noting that the cruise industry has not been operating for a significant period of time, it is the MCA policy that all cruise vessels operating from UK ports with UK passengers on board will be subject to an Expanded Inspection by surveyors of the MCA prior to the commencement of operations regardless of previous inspection history.

2. Extent of Inspections

2.1 The Inspections will be conducted to the standard of an Expanded Inspection conducted under the remit of the Paris MOU of Port State Control. https://www.parismou.org/inspections-risk/inspection-types/expanded-inspection

2.2 Where an inspection is conducted on a vessel which is not registered in the UK or a Red Ensign Group Category I Register (Bermuda, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands) then the inspection will be recorded as an Expanded inspection within the Paris MOU regardless of the Priority for inspection within that organisation.

2.3 The scope of the inspection conducted on UK or REG Group 1 Registered vessels will be decided on a case-by-case basis dependent on the level of oversight maintained by the MCA during the period of the Pandemic, but such oversight must reflect the condition of the vessel as it is intended to re-enter passenger service.

2.4 The Industry’s COVID-19 framework for cruise operations is designed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 onboard and provides a means to address risks to persons. The MCA does not hold the relevant competencies to assess the effectiveness of the specific protection measures put in place on board. Instead, cruise operators using the framework will be verified by a competent, independent third party to ensure their COVID-19 Management Plans meet the standards contained in the framework documents.

2.5 During the Expanded Inspections, the MCA will verify that the vessel holds a COVID-19 Management Plan and that the plan has been subject to an external verification in accordance with the framework, providing assurance on the management of risk.

2.6 A vessel not holding a COVID-19 Management Plan, or unable to demonstrate that it has been externally verified, will be considered against the requirements of the ISM Code and the general duties of the Merchant Shipping health and safety legislation, to determine the required action, which could result in a prohibition from the carriage of passengers if the relevant risks have not been assessed and mitigated.

3. Organisation of Inspections

3.1 The inspections will preferably be conducted by arrangement with the local MCA Marine Office and should be planned in advance to enable them to be appropriately resourced. Marine Office contact details are available on gov.uk.

3.2 Vessels must be presented for inspection alongside in a fully operational condition.

3.3 Any COVID-19 measures in place must be discussed with the local Marine Office when arranging the inspections.

3.4 The inspections are not a chargeable activity.

More Information

Inspection Operations Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/20
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Tel: +44 (0) 20390 85228

Email: HQ_InspectionOps@mcga.gov.uk