These Regulations prescribe the circumstances in which Part 5 of the Equality Act 2010 (c.15) (Work) applies to seafarers working on United Kingdom ships and hovercraft (regulations 3(1) and 4), or on ships and hovercraft from other EEA States (regulation 3(2) and (3)).

The Regulations provide that it is not unlawful to differentiate in relation to pay where a person applied for work as a seafarer outside Great Britain or was recruited as a seafarer outside Great Britain and is not a British Citizen or a national of another EEA State or designated state (regulation 5).

These Regulations require the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of these Regulations and publish a report setting out the conclusions of that review within five years after they come into force and within every five years after that. Following a review it will fall to the Secretary of State to consider whether the Regulations should remain as they are, or be revoked or be amended. A further instrument will be needed to revoke these Regulations or to amend them (regulation 6).

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR, and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the library of each House.