Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the revised MCA Rescue Boat Code.

The MCA remains committed to the development of the replacement to the Rescue Boat Code and continues to actively engage with Rescue Boat Organisations, HM Coastguard, and other industry stakeholders to finalise the draft as we work toward setting an implementation date.

Further stakeholder engagement sessions were held with Rescue Boat Organisations in June 2026 in response to feedback received from industry to the draft circulated on 18th May 2026, and to identify and close any remaining drafting issues. These sessions were positively received by industry and a revised draft was circulated to targeted industry stakeholders in August 2026 with feedback expected during September 2026.

The MCA will publish the replacement to the rescue boat code as the Search and Rescue Craft Annex to Workboat Code Edition 3, as soon as practicable, once these processes have been completed.