Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
265. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out the current system for surveying and registering of Irish charter vessels and the conditions that they can operate under once receiving the necessary accreditation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/23]
View answerThe operation of charter yachts is a commercial activity. The regulation of commercial vessels is regulated internationally by the International Maritime Organization by means of a number of Conventions addressing vessel safety, environmental performance and the training of seafarers. The International Conventions are mainly addressed to large internationally trading vessels. If a charter yacht is large and falls within the size parameters of these Conventions then they must comply with their requirements. It should be noted that the International Conventions only apply to vessels on international voyages and do not apply to domestic voyages. In such cases the relevant host state, port state and local authority of the state where the vessel is operating will set out the relevant requirements. Smaller charter yachts which are outside the size parameters for these Conventions are regulated by the relevant authority of the State in which they operate. There is no international or EU harmonisation of the standards for such vessels and each host state and port sets their own requirements. This means that a small commercial charter yacht operating domestically within the waters of an EU member state must comply with the requirements of the authority of that state which will issue the relevant authorisations. A flag state may not set the safety standards in the waters of a port or host state.
Registration of vessels in Ireland is regulated under the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955. Nationality requirements apply to prospective registered owners and this currently includes Irish, EU and UK citizens and body corporate. Applicants must contact a Registrar of Shipping at their chosen port of registry in relation to satisfying the registration requirements and the application process also requires a tonnage measurement survey, which is carried out by the Marine Survey Office.
In Ireland commercial charter yachts are required to comply with the applicable Irish merchant shipping and sea pollution Acts and relevant EU legislation. However, Ireland does not authorise the operation of commercial charter yachts outside the state and any yacht seeking to operate in the internal waters of another State must comply with the laws of that State. Consequently, it is not possible to provide for a system which would allow Irish registered commercial charter yachts to operate in the waters of another EU state.
