The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1997

Stowage and securing

6.—(1) The operator and master shall ensure that:

(a) cargo and cargo units carried on or under deck are loaded, stowed and secured so as to prevent as far as is practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board, and loss of cargo overboard;

(b) appropriate precautions are taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes or cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions to ensure that no structural damage to the ship occurs and to maintain adequate stability throughout the voyage; and

(c) appropriate precautions are taken during loading and transport of cargo units on board ro-ro ships, especially with regard to the securing arrangements on board such ships and on the cargo units and with regard to the strength of the securing points and lashings.

(2) Where packaged goods have been packed in to or on to a cargo unit, the shipper or forwarder of such goods shall ensure that:

(a) the cargo is packed and secured so as to prevent, throughout any voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board; and

(b) if the cargo unit is a container, it is not loaded to more than the maximum gross weight indicated on the Safety Approval Plate attached to the container in accordance with the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC 1972), published by the Organisation.

(3) (a) An operator or master who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence;

(b) a shipper or forwarder who contravenes paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence.