The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 2024

Contents

Part 1 · Preliminary

1Citation, commencement and extent#

(1)These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 2024 and come into force on 11th June 2024.

(2)These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2Amendments and revocation#

(1)The amendments listed in the Schedule have effect.

(2)The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999 are revoked.

3Interpretation#

(1)In these Regulations—• “cargo ship” means a ship which is not a passenger ship;• “Chapter VI” means Chapter VI in the Annex to the Convention (relating to the carriage of cargoes and oil fuels);• “Convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974;• “fishing vessel” means a ship used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea;• “forwarder” means a person who receives the appropriate cargo information in preparation for eventual delivery of the cargo to the ship or its agent, and may include a cargo packer or consolidator;• “gross tonnage” means gross tonnage as determined in accordance with regulation 6 or 12(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997;• “International Grain Code” means the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization by resolution MSC.23(59);• “Merchant Shipping Notice” means a notice described as such and issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (an executive agency of the Department for Transport) and includes a reference to any document amending or replacing that notice which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;• “non-United Kingdom ship” means any ship other than a United Kingdom ship;• “passenger” means a person other than—(a) the master and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of that ship; or(b) a child under one year of age;• “passenger ship” means a ship which carries more than 12 passengers;• “pleasure vessel” means—(a) any vessel which at the time it is being used is—(a) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by—(aa) an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner; or(bb) a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons on board are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends; and(b) on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner does not receive money for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion; or(b) any vessel wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club,where, in the case of any vessel referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b), no other payments are made by or on behalf of users of the vessel, other than by the owner; and in this definition “immediate family” means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual’s spouse or civil partner; and “relative” means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;• “seagoing” means going to sea beyond the limits of category A, B, C or D waters, as categorised in Merchant Shipping Notice 1837 (M) Amendment 3;• “ship” includes hovercraft;• “shipper” means any person who, whether as principal or agent for another, consigns goods for carriage by sea;• “terminal representative” means a person appointed by the terminal or other facility where the ship is loading or unloading who has responsibility for operations conducted by that terminal or other facility with regard to the particular ship.

(2)Where a ship is operated by a person other than its owner, whether on behalf of the owner or some other person, or on that person’s own behalf, a reference in these Regulations to the owner must be construed as including a reference to that person.

4Application#

(1)Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), these Regulations apply to the carriage of cargo on—

(a)seagoing United Kingdom ships, wherever they may be; and

(b)seagoing non-United Kingdom ships while they are within United Kingdom waters.

(2)These Regulations do not apply to—

(a)ships of war and naval auxiliary ships;

(b)ships owned or operated by a State and engaged only on governmental non-commercial service;

(c)ships not propelled by mechanical means;

(d)wooden ships of primitive build;

(e)pleasure vessels;

(f)fishing vessels;

(g)ships solely navigating the Great Lakes of North America and the River St Lawrence as far east as a straight line drawn from Cap des Rosiers to West Point, Anticosti Island and, on the north side of Anticosti Island, the 63rd meridian.

(3)A non-United Kingdom ship flying the flag of a State which is not a party to the Convention is not subject to these Regulations if it would not have been in United Kingdom waters but for stress of weather or any other circumstances which the master, owner or charterer could not have prevented.

(4)Where persons are on board a ship as a consequence of—

(a)the circumstances described in paragraph (3); or

(b)an obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked or other persons,

those persons are not to be taken into account for the purpose of determining the application to that ship of any provision of these Regulations.

5Ambulatory reference#

(1)In these Regulations, any reference to Chapter VI or the International Grain Code is to be construed—

(a)as a reference to Chapter VI or the International Grain Code as modified from time to time; and

(b)as, if Chapter VI or the International Grain Code is replaced, a reference to the replacement.

(2)For the purposes of paragraph (1), Chapter VI or the International Grain Code is modified or replaced if the modification or replacement takes effect in accordance with Article VIII of the Convention.

(3)A modification or replacement of Chapter VI or the International Grain Code has effect at the time such modification or replacement comes into force in accordance with Article VIII of the Convention.

6Exemptions#

(1)The Secretary of State may grant an exemption from any requirement of a regulation in Part 2 to the extent that it requires compliance with Part A or B of Chapter VI in respect of a cargo ship of less than 500 gross tonnage or class of such cargo ship if satisfied that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyage make it unreasonable or unnecessary to apply that requirement.

(2)The Secretary of State may, in exceptional circumstances not provided for in paragraph (1), grant an exemption from any provision of these Regulations in respect of a ship or class of ship if satisfied that compliance with such provision is either impracticable or unreasonable in the case of that ship or class of ship.

(3)An exemption under paragraph (1) or (2) may be granted subject to such safety requirements as the Secretary of State thinks fit to ensure the overall safety of the ship.

(4)An exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2) may, on the giving of reasonable notice, be altered or cancelled.

(5)An exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2), or an alteration or cancellation under paragraph (4), must—

(a)be in writing;

(b)specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c)specify the terms, if any, on which it is given.

(6)The requirement that the exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2), or an alteration or cancellation under paragraph (4), be in writing is satisfied where the text of the exemption, alteration or cancellation is—

(a)transmitted by electronic means;

(b)received in legible form; and

(c)capable of being used for subsequent reference.

(7)Where an exemption is granted subject to safety requirements under paragraph (3), the exemption ceases to have effect if those requirements are not complied with.

7Equivalents#

(1)Where the provisions of Chapter VI require that—

(a)a particular fitting, material, appliance or apparatus be fitted on, or carried in, a ship;

(b)any particular arrangement be made on, or in relation to, a ship; or

(c)any particular provision be made in relation to a ship,

the Secretary of State may approve any other fitting, material, appliance, apparatus, arrangement or other provision if satisfied that it is at least as effective as that required by Chapter VI.

(2)An approval under paragraph (1) may be granted subject to such safety requirements as the Secretary of State thinks fit to ensure the overall safety of the ship.

(3)An approval given under paragraph (1) may, on the giving of reasonable notice, be continued, altered or cancelled.

(4)An approval given under paragraph (1), or a continuation, alteration or cancellation under paragraph (3), must—

(a)be in writing;

(b)specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c)specify the terms, if any, on which it is given.

(5)The requirement that the approval referred to in paragraph (1), or a continuation, alteration or cancellation under paragraph (3), be in writing is satisfied where the text of the approval, continuation, alteration or cancellation is—

(a)transmitted by electronic means;

(b)received in legible form; and

(c)capable of being used for subsequent reference.

(6)Where an approval is granted subject to safety requirements under paragraph (2), the approval ceases to have effect if those requirements are not complied with.

8Approvals#

(1)The Secretary of State, or any person authorised by the Secretary of State, may grant an approval in relation to a ship for anything in Chapter VI requiring to be—

(a)approved by the Administration of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly; or

(b)done to the satisfaction of such Administration.

(2)Unless approved under the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025, equipment required by Chapter VI and placed on board a United Kingdom ship must be approved by the Secretary of State, or any person authorised by the Secretary of State.

(3)An approval given under paragraph (1) or (2) may, on the giving of reasonable notice, be continued, altered or cancelled.

(4)An approval given under paragraph (1) or (2), or a continuation, alteration or cancellation under paragraph (3), must—

(a)be in writing;

(b)specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c)specify the terms, if any, on which it is given.

(5)The requirement that the approval referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), or the continuation, alteration or cancellation under paragraph (3), be in writing is satisfied where the text of the approval, continuation, alteration or cancellation is—

(a)transmitted by electronic means;

(b)received in legible form; and

(c)capable of being used for subsequent reference.

Part 2 · Requirements in relation to the carriage of cargoes and oil fuels

9Requirements in relation to ships: owners and masters#

(1)An owner and master must ensure that a ship complies with—

(a)each requirement in Chapter VI applicable in relation to that ship, other than a requirement in—

(i)paragraphs 1 to 5 of regulation 2 (cargo information);

(ii)regulation 4 (use of pesticides in ships);

(iii)paragraphs 2 and 5 of regulation 5 of Chapter VI (stowage and securing); or

(iv)regulation 5-1 (material safety data sheets); and

(b)each requirement in Merchant Shipping Notice 1917(M) applicable in relation to that ship, other than the requirements in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3, where pesticides are used on the ship.

(2)An owner and master of a ship must not accept for carriage, or take or receive on board any cargo, for which information as required by regulation 2 (cargo information) of Chapter VI has not been provided.

10Requirements in relation to owners or masters#

(1)An owner of a ship must ensure that the master is provided with the information described in regulation 6 (acceptability for shipment) of Chapter VI.

(2)A master must comply with the requirements in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Merchant Shipping Notice 1917(M).

11Requirements in relation to shippers and forwarders#

(1)Subject to paragraph (3), a shipper or forwarder must comply with each requirement of Chapter VI listed in paragraph (2) applicable to them.

(2)The requirements for a shipper are—

(a)paragraphs 1 to 5 of regulation 2 (cargo information);

(b)paragraphs 2 and 5 of regulation 5 (stowage and securing); and

(c)regulation 5-1 (material safety data sheets).

(3)Where a shipper does not deliver cargo to a ship or its agent—

(a)the shipper must provide the forwarder with the information described in paragraphs 1 to 3 of regulation 2 (cargo information);

(b)the forwarder must comply with the requirements on the shipper in paragraphs 1 to 5 of regulation 2 (cargo information);

(c)the forwarder must comply with the requirements on the shipper in paragraphs 2 and 5 of the regulation 5 (stowage and securing); and

(d)the forwarder must comply with the requirements in regulation 5-1 (material safety data sheets).

12Requirements in relation to terminal representatives#

A terminal representative must comply with the provisions in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of regulation 7 of Chapter VI (loading etc. of solid bulk cargoes) applicable to a terminal representative.

13International Grain Code: document of authorisation#

(1)The Secretary of State or any person authorised by the Secretary of State may issue a document of authorisation in accordance with section 3 of Part A of the International Grain Code.

(2)A document of authorisation issued under paragraph (1) must—

(a)be in writing;

(b)specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c)specify the terms, if any, on which it is given.

Part 3 · Control and enforcement

14Offences: owner and master#

(1)If a ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea or on any voyage, or arrives within United Kingdom waters, in breach of any of the requirements in regulation 9 the owner and the master are each guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.

(2)An owner who fails to ensure that the master is provided with information in accordance with regulation 10(1) is guilty of an offence.

(3)A master who fails to comply with regulation 10(2) is guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.

15Offences: shipper and forwarder#

(1)A shipper who fails to provide information in accordance with regulation 11(1) or (3)(a) is guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.

(2)A forwarder who fails to comply with regulation 11(1), (3)(b), (c) or (d) is guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.

(3)A shipper or forwarder who knowingly or recklessly provides false information under regulation 11(1) or (3) is guilty of an offence.

16Offence: terminal representative#

A terminal representative who fails to comply with regulation 12 is guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.

17Penalties#

(1)An offence under regulation 14, 15 or 16 is punishable—

(a)on summary conviction—

(i)in England and Wales by a fine; or

(ii)in Scotland or Northern Ireland by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(2)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under regulation 14, 15 or 16 to prove that the person charged took all reasonable steps to avoid the commission of the offence.

18Detention#

(1)For the purposes of this regulation, any reference to “the Act” is a reference to the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

(2)Any ship which does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations applicable to that ship may be detained.

(3)Section 284 of the Act (enforcing detention of ship) applies where a ship is liable to be detained under this regulation as if—

(a)references to detention of a ship under the Act were references to detention of the ship in question under this regulation; and

(b)subsection (7) were omitted.

(4)Where a ship is liable to be detained under this regulation, the person detaining the ship must serve on the master a detention notice which—

(a)states the grounds of the detention; and

(b)requires the terms of the notice to be complied with until the ship is released by any person mentioned in section 284(1) of the Act.

(5)Subject to paragraph (6), section 96 (references of detention notices to arbitration) and section 97 (compensation in connection with invalid detention of a ship) of the Act apply in relation to a detention notice issued pursuant to this regulation as they apply in relation to detention notices issued pursuant to section 95 (power to detain dangerously unsafe ship).

(6)For the purposes of paragraph (5)—

(a)section 96 of the Act applies as if—

(i)subsection (3) were omitted;

(ii)the words “as a dangerously unsafe ship” in subsection (5) were omitted;

(iii)subsection (11) were omitted; and

(b)sections 96 and 97 of the Act apply as if “the relevant inspector” means a person issuing the detention notice pursuant to this regulation.

(7)Subject to paragraph (8), where a non-United Kingdom ship is detained, the Secretary of State must immediately inform the ship’s flag administration in writing.

(8)If it is not possible to inform the ship’s flag administration in accordance with paragraph (7), the Secretary of State must inform the Consul of the State of the flag administration, or in the absence of a Consul, the nearest diplomatic representative of the State of the flag administration.

(9)For the purposes of paragraphs (7) and (8), “flag administration” in relation to a ship means the administration of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.

19Review of the Regulations#

(1)The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a)carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations; and

(b)publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2)The first report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force.

(3)Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

(4)Section 30(3) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a review carried out under this regulation must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the obligations under the Convention are implemented in other countries which are subject to the obligations.

(5)Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular—

(a)set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph 1(a);

(b)assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved;

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate; and

(d)if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.

(6)In this regulation, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).

Schedule · Amendments

(1)In regulation 12(2) of the Merchant Shipping (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) Regulations 2003—

(a)omit—

(i)sub-paragraph (o);

(ii)at the end of sub-paragraph (p), “and”;

(b)at the end, insert—“, andr the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 2024”

(2)The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 are amended as follows.

(3)In Schedule 1 (fees under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995), in the table in paragraph 5 (fees for inspections, etc) of Part 1 (surveys, inspections and applications for exemption), in Section G (load lines)—

(a)omit the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999;

(b)at the end—

(i)in the first column, insert “The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 2024”;

(ii)in the second column, insert “2024/637”;

(iii)in the third column, insert “None”.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Defined terms · 20

Show every defined term

cargo ship
means a ship which is not a passenger ship;
Chapter VI
means Chapter VI in the Annex to the Convention (relating to the carriage of cargoes and oil fuels);
Convention
means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974;
fishing vessel
means a ship used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea;
forwarder
means a person who receives the appropriate cargo information in preparation for eventual delivery of the cargo to the ship or its agent, and may include a cargo packer or consolidator;
gross tonnage
means gross tonnage as determined in accordance with regulation 6 or 12(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997;
immediate family
means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual’s spouse or civil partner;
International Grain Code
means the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization by resolution MSC.23(59);
Merchant Shipping Notice
means a notice described as such and issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (an executive agency of the Department for Transport) and includes a reference to any document amending or replacing that notice which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;
non-United Kingdom ship
means any ship other than a United Kingdom ship;
passenger
means a person other than— (a) the master and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of that ship;
passenger ship
means a ship which carries more than 12 passengers;
pleasure vessel
means— (a) any vessel which at the time it is being used is— (a) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by— (aa) an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner;
regulatory provision
has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).
relative
means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;
seagoing
means going to sea beyond the limits of category A, B, C or D waters, as categorised in Merchant Shipping Notice 1837 (M) Amendment 3;
ship
includes hovercraft;
shipper
means any person who, whether as principal or agent for another, consigns goods for carriage by sea;
terminal representative
means a person appointed by the terminal or other facility where the ship is loading or unloading who has responsibility for operations conducted by that terminal or other facility with regard to the particular ship.
the relevant inspector
means a person issuing the detention notice pursuant to this regulation.

1Citation, commencement and extent#

2Amendments and revocation#

3Interpretation#

4Application#

5Ambulatory reference#

6Exemptions#

7Equivalents#

8Approvals#

9Requirements in relation to ships: owners and masters#

10Requirements in relation to owners or masters#

11Requirements in relation to shippers and forwarders#

12Requirements in relation to terminal representatives#

13International Grain Code: document of authorisation#

14Offences: owner and master#

15Offences: shipper and forwarder#

16Offence: terminal representative#

17Penalties#

18Detention#

19Review of the Regulations#

Key facts

Defined terms · 20

Connections

History · 3 versions

1Citation, commencement and extent#

2Amendments and revocation#

3Interpretation#

4Application#

5Ambulatory reference#

6Exemptions#

7Equivalents#

8Approvals#

9Requirements in relation to ships: owners and masters#

10Requirements in relation to owners or masters#

11Requirements in relation to shippers and forwarders#

12Requirements in relation to terminal representatives#

13International Grain Code: document of authorisation#

14Offences: owner and master#

15Offences: shipper and forwarder#

16Offence: terminal representative#

17Penalties#

18Detention#

19Review of the Regulations#