The Merchant Shipping (Reporting Requirements for Ships Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods) Regulations 1994

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and re-enact with amendments the Merchant Shipping (Reporting of Pollution Incidents) Regulations 1987.

The Regulations give effect to Protocol 1 to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (MARPOL) as amended by amendments adopted on 5th December 1985 by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at its 22nd Session.

The Regulations also implement changes made by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO to regulations 5 and 7 of Chapter VII of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 (SOLAS) which require the retention of dangerous goods manifests and stowage plans ashore and also the reporting of any incidents involving the loss overboard of packaged dangerous goods. They also re-enact similar provisions in MARPOL, Annex III, regulation 4 relating to marine pollutants, previously contained in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990.

The Regulations give effect to requirements in the IMDG Code for the shipper to provide prior notification before shipment of radioactive materials and for the master to report following an incident involving infectious substances.

Copies of the IMDG Code and IMO Resolution A. 648 (16) are obtainable from the IMO 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.

Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from the Department of Transport, Marine Safety Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG and from any Marine Office of the Marine Safety Agency.