The Merchant Shipping (Gas Carriers) Regulations 1994

Citation, commencement, interpretation and revocation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Gas Carriers) Regulations 1994 and shall come into force on 1st October 1994.

(2) In these Regulations:—

“the 1974 SOLAS Convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended(1);

“Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate”, “Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate”, “Cargo Ship Safety Radiotelegraphy Certificate” and “Cargo Ship Safety Radiotelephony Certificate” mean respectively the certificates so entitled, issued in conformity with the 1974 SOLAS Convention and, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, under or pursuant to the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1994;

“constructed” means, in relation to a ship, having its keel laid or being at a similar stage of construction; and “similar stage of construction” means the stage at which—

(a)

construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and

(b)

assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or 1% of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is the less;

“1986-1994 gas carrier” means—

(a)

a gas carrier which was constructed on or after 1st July 1986 but before 1st October 1994;

(b)

a ship which was converted to being a gas carrier in that period; or

(c)

(to the extent that the Secretary of State considers reasonable and practicable) a gas carrier which was constructed before 1st July 1986, but which underwent repairs, alterations or modifications of a major character in that period;

“gas carrier” means a self-propelled cargo ship constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of any liquefied gas listed in Chapter 19 of the IGC Code or any other substance so listed;

“the IBC Code” means, in relation to 1986-1994 gas carriers the 1983 IBC Code, and in relation to new gas carriers, the 1994 IBC Code;

“the IGC Code” means, in relation to 1986-1994 gas carriers, the 1983 IGC Code and in relation to new gas carriers, the 1993 IGC Code;

“in bulk” means directly and without intermediate form of containment in a tank forming an integral part of, or permanently located on, a ship;

“International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk” means, in relation to a United Kingdom ship, a certificate issued pursuant to regulation 5 and, in relation to any other ship, a certificate issued in conformity with Chapter 1 of the IGC Code by or on behalf of the Administration of the State in which the ship is registered.

“new gas carrier” means—

(a)

a gas carrier which is constructed on or after 1st October 1994;

(b)

a ship which is converted to being a gas carrier on or after that date; or

(c)

(to the extent that the Secretary of State considers reasonable and practicable) a gas carrier which was constructed before that date, but underwent repairs, alterations or modifications of a major character after that date;

“1983 IBC Code” means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk published by the International Maritime Organisation in 1983;

“1994 IBC Code” means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk published by the International Maritime Organisation in 1994;

“1983 IGC Code” means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk published by the International Maritime Organisation in 1983;

“1993 IGC Code” means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk published by the International Maritime Organisation in 1993.

(3) In interpreting the IGC Code—

(a) the requirements of the IGC Code having been made mandatory under regulation 3 the language thereof shall be construed accordingly;

(b) the definitions set out in Chapter 1, paragraph 1.3 thereof, shall apply;

(c) references to the Administration shall, in relation to United Kingdom ships, be references to the Secretary of State; and references to the Port Administration shall, in relation to all ships in the United Kingdom, be references to the Secretary of State;

(d) references to the 1974 SOLAS Convention mean references to the Convention as defined in these Regulations.

(4) In interpreting the 1983 IGC Code—

(a) in paragraph 2.7.8.1, the number “2.9.1.2.1”shall be read as “2.9.2.1”; in paragraph 4.2.2.3, last line, “1 mm” shall be read as “10 mm”; in paragraph 5.2.1.1, first line, “this section” shall be read as “sections 5.2-5.5”;

• in paragraph 5.4.6.3.1, second line, “service temperatures” shall be read as “design temperatures”;

• in paragraph 11.1.1.1, the number “56.4” shall be read as “56.6”;

• in paragraph 14.2.3.1, first line, “one set” shall be read as “one spare set”;

(b) the number of firemen’s outfits required pursuant to paragraph 11.6.1 shall, for ships below 2000m³ total cargo capacity, be 4.

(5) Any reference in these Regulations to any of the following—

(a) the IBC Code;

(b) the IGC Code;

(c) 1974 SOLAS Convention;

shall include a reference to any document amending it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

(6) The Merchant Shipping (Gas Carriers) Regulations 1986(2) are hereby revoked.

(1)

The Convention and amendments are set out in the 1992 consolidated edition of SOLAS published by the International Maritime Organisation.

(2)

S.I. 1986/1073.