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DebateGeneral CommitteeTuesday, 19 May 202614:30

Second Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2026

Parliamentary debate

Parliament will scrutinise draft regulations that implement international port state control standards for merchant shipping. These regulations set out how UK ports inspect foreign vessels to verify compliance with international maritime safety, pollution prevention, and labour standards. The debate will examine whether the draft rules effectively transpose international maritime conventions into UK law and strike the right balance between regulatory rigour and operational practicality for port authorities and shipping operators.

These regulations affect all commercial shipping using UK ports—one of Europe's busiest maritime hubs. Non-compliance can mean vessels are detained or banned from port, so the rules directly impact shipping companies' costs and operations. They also protect UK ports and coastal communities from substandard ships that pose safety and environmental risks. The regulations matter to maritime workers and environmental groups concerned with preventing pollution and enforcing labour standards at sea.

TransportEnvironment

MPs most likely to speak

Heidi AlexanderLabour Party

Swindon South

Jerome MayhewConservative and Unionist Party

Broadland and Fakenham

Simon LightwoodLabour and Co-operative Party

Wakefield and Rothwell

Andrew BowieConservative and Unionist Party

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Emma HardyLabour Party

Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

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