The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/42) (“the 2019 Regulations”) to implement amendments to Annex I (prevention of pollution by oil) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (“MARPOL”). The amendments were adopted by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MEPC.329(76) on 17th June 2021 and came into force internationally on 1st November 2022. The Regulations also make consequential amendments to the 2019 Regulations and to the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1104) (“the Fees Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 27 of the 2019 Regulations (control of discharge of oil in special areas) to substitute the reference to “regulation 38.6.1 of Annex I” with a reference to “regulation 38.8.1 of Annex I”, in order to reflect the updated numbering of the provision in Annex I; this update was not reflected in the 2019 Regulations.

The amendments to Annex I, which insert new regulation 43A into Annex I, are given effect by regulation 2(3). Regulation 2(3) inserts new regulation 28A into the 2019 Regulations in order to implement the requirements of regulation 43A of Annex I. The effect of the amendments is to prohibit the use and carriage of specified oils as fuel on ships operating in Arctic waters. The prohibition applies to the majority of ships from the date these Regulations come into force. Ships with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600m³ or above delivered on or after 1st August 2010, and category A and B ships (as defined in regulation 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 of chapter 1 of part II-A of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, known as “the Polar Code”) with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of less than 600m³ constructed on or after 1st January 2017, are not subject to the prohibition until 1st July 2029.

Regulation 2(4) inserts provision for enforcement of the prohibition in new regulation 28A of the 2019 Regulations by way of detention of the ship under regulation 38 of the 2019 Regulations (which is carried out by a port State control officer on behalf of the Secretary of State). This amendment also ensures that the reference to the offence under regulation 27 of the 2019 Regulations (control of discharge of oil in certain special areas) applies solely to paragraph (3) of that regulation, in accordance with the offence prescribed in regulation 42 (offences). The amendment also ensures that the reference to the offence under regulation 28 of the 2019 Regulations (special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic Area), is solely to paragraph (1) of that regulation. Regulation 2(5) extends the power of a harbour master under regulation 39 of the 2019 Regulations to detain a ship for a contravention of the new prohibition and makes the same clarifications in relation to the offences that apply to regulations 27 and 28.

Regulation 2(6) makes provision for any contravention of the prohibition in new regulation 28A of the 2019 Regulations to be an offence, by way of amendment to regulation 42 of the 2019 Regulations (offences). It makes further provision to clarify that the offence which applies to regulation 28 of the 2019 Regulations applies solely to paragraph (1) of that regulation.

Regulation 2(7) to (10) makes consequential amendments to regulations 44 to 47 of the 2019 Regulations (enforcement provisions) so that these provisions apply to the new regulation 28A.

Regulation 3 makes consequential amendments to the Fees Regulations.

MARPOL, the Protocol of 1978 modifying MARPOL and the amendments to it including Resolution MEPC.329(76), may be obtained in hard copy from the IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, and can be found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch). Until such publication of Resolution MEPC.329(76) is made on the treaties database, the amendment will be available from the MCA of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG. Resolution MEPC.329(76) is also available at https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.329(76).pdf.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.