The consolidated to August 2019 edition incorporates the three series of Merchant Shipping Notices (MSNs), Marine Guidance Notes (MGNs) and Marine Information Notes (MINs). These notices publicise to the shipping and fishing industries important safety, pollution prevention and other relevant information. Merchant Shipping Notices - MSNs are used to convey mandatory information that must be complied with under UK legislation. These MSNs relate to Statutory Instruments and contain the technical detail of such regulations. Marine Guidance Notes - MGNs give significant advice and guidance relating to the improvement of the safety of shipping and of life at sea, and to prevent or minimise pollution from shipping. Marine Information Notes - MINs are intended for a more limited audience e.g. training establishments or equipment manufacturers, or contain information which will only be of use for a short period of time, such as timetables for MCA examinations. MINs are numbered in sequence and have a cancellation date (which will typically be no more than twelve months after publication).

This edition, consolidated to 31 October 2013, incorporates the three series of Merchant Shipping Notices (MSNs), Marine Guidance Notes (MGNs) and Marine Information Notes (MINs). Merchant Shipping Notices derive their information from UK legislation either directly from Merchant Shipping Acts or from secondary legislation. Compliance with the information or instructions in MSNs is mandatory. Marine Guidance Notices give specific advice on preventing or minimising pollution from shipping and general guidance on improving the safety of shipping and life at sea