The Merchant Shipping (Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers) Regulations 2022

Restrictions from sailing with any hold empty

20.—(1) This regulation applies to a bulk carrier of single-side skin construction of 150 metres or more in length carrying cargo having a density of 1,780 kg/m3 and above which does not comply with—

(a) the requirements for withstanding flooding of any one cargo hold as specified in regulation 5.1 of Chapter XII (structural strength of certain bulk carriers with single-side skin construction); and

(b) the standards and criteria for side structures of bulk carriers of single-side skin construction referred to in regulation 14 of Chapter XII (restrictions from sailing with any hold empty) (and contained in IMO Resolution MSC.168(79))(1).

(2) A bulk carrier to which this regulation applies must not sail with any hold loaded to less than 10 per cent of the hold’s maximum allowable cargo weight when in the full load condition, after reaching 10 years of age.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, “the full load condition” means a load equal to or greater than 90 per cent of the ship’s deadweight at the freeboard assigned—

(a) in the case of a United Kingdom bulk carrier, under the Merchant Shipping (International Load Line Convention) (Amendment) Regulations 2018(2) or the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998(3), as the case may be;

(b) in the case of a non-United Kingdom bulk carrier flying the flag of a country which is a party to the Load Line Convention, in accordance with that Convention; or

(c) in the case of a non-United Kingdom bulk carrier flying the flag of a State which is not a party to the Load Line Convention, in accordance with the requirements of that State,

and “deadweight” means the bulk carrier’s carrying capacity and “freeboard” means the distance measured vertically downwards at amidships from the upper edge of the deck-line to the upper edge of the related load line.

(1)

IMO Resolution MSC.168(79) contains the standards and criteria for side structures of bulk carriers of single-side skin construction. MSC.168(79) was adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO on 9th December 2004 for the purposes of the application of regulation 14 of Chapter XII and is made mandatory by reference to it in regulation 14 of Chapter XII.

(2)

S.I. 2018/155. These Regulations apply to United Kingdom ships and to non-United Kingdom ships in United Kingdom waters constructed on or after 21st July 1968, of 24 metres or more in length and engaged on international voyages, with limited exceptions. Freeboards are assigned under regulation 3 of the Regulations.

(3)

S.I. 1998/2241, amended by S.I. 2000/1335, S.I. 2011/603 and S.I. 2018/155. These Regulations apply to all ships to which S.I. 2018/155 does not apply, with limited exceptions. Freeboards are assigned under regulation 7 of the Regulations.