MCA opens consultation for the inclusion of new guidance for meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility on small passenger vessels


On 5 January 2022 the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) published a consultation on an amendment to update MGN 306(M) Designing and Operating Smaller Passenger Vessels: Meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility. The reason for looking to publish an amended version of the MGN is to update it in certain areas due to changes in legislation, documentation, practice and to obtain the views of interested parties.


The MCA would like to hear any comments that you may have about the proposed MGN. They are particularly interested in hearing about your comments on the following aspects of the draft MGN:


- Any content which you believe to be inaccurate: - Any typographic errors; - Any non-statutory advice with which you disagree; - Any content you believe is unclear; - Any content you think is inappropriate to include, and should therefore be omitted; - Any content which has been omitted which you believe should be included.


The MCA has included two Annex’s with the consultation letter and the draft MGN 306(M) Amendment 1, looking for your answers on the subject matter of the consultation (Annex A) and the MCA consultation feedback form, for comments on the way in which the consultation was conducted (Annex B).


To submit your comments for Annex A, the MCA requests that you complete the form and either scan or photograph a clearly readable copy to be emailed to dpv@mcga.gov.uk. If you do not have access to email, then they ask you to phone the MCA’s Passenger Vessel Team on 020 381 72379 or 72392. The consultation will close on 5 February 2022 and a summary will be posted on the GOV.UK page (Policy papers and consultations) within three months of completion of the consultation.


Read the draft MGN Amendment 1 at: https://bit.ly/3Go7XrK.


Read the consultation letter at: https://bit.ly/3qo7qk5.


Two men to appear in court following the Seadogz accident


Two men are to appear in court having been charged in connection with the death of a girl after the RIB she was a passenger in crashed during a sightseeing trip.


The speedboat, Seadogz, was driven by Michael Lawrence who has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. The owner of the boat, Michael Howley, has been charged with failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the boat was operated in a safe manner.


The two men are due to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 2 February 2022.


The excursion took place in Southampton Water on 22 August 2020 with an MAIB report released at the time stating Seadogz carried out high speed manoeuvres up and down Southampton Water, zigzagging across the main channel, passing close to navigation buoys and conducting figure-of-eight turns in order to cross its own wake. After jumping over the Red Falcon car ferry’s wake, the RIB collided with a buoy causing all those on board apart from one to be thrown from their seats and sustain injuries. Emily Lewis, 15, was fatally injured; two other passengers were thrown overboard.


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