The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous or Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement amendments to:

(a) Annex II of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution at Sea 1973 as amended by its Protocol of 1978 (“MARPOL 73/78”),

(b) the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (“the IBC Code”), and

(c) the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (“the BCH Code”)

which harmonise the survey and certification requirements of those agreements with the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS).

In addition, regulation 6 of these Regulations implements amendments to MARPOL 73/78 relating to the introduction of a shipboard marine pollution emergency plan for noxious liquid substances.

Regulation 7 of these Regulations amends provisions on the power to detain ships which do not comply with the requirements of the Regulations, and applies section 284(1) to (6) and (8) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

Merchant Shipping Notices can be read or downloaded free from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website (www.mcga.gov.uk). Printed copies can be obtained from Mail Marketing (Scotland) Ltd, Unit 6 Bloomsgrove Industrial Estate, Norton Street, Nottingham NG7 3JG (telephone [phone]). Resolutions and other publications of the International Maritime Organisation can be obtained from IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.