PART IGENERAL

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 1987 and shall come into force on 6th April 1987.

(2) In these Regulations-

"BCH Code" means the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (1986 edition) published by IMO;

"BCH Code Certificate" means a certificate of compliance with the BCH Code issued in accordance with the BCH Code Regulations;

"BCH Code Regulations" means the Merchant Shipping (BCH Code) Regulations 1987(2);

"Category A substance", "Category B substance", "Category C substance" and

"Category D substance" mean respectively any substance listed in the column of Schedule 1 headed "Substance" and identified as falling into Category A, B, C or D as the case may be by an entry of "A", "B", "C" or "D" as the case may be in column II of that schedule; and any substance which is provisionally listed or class-approved as a Category A, B, C or D substance as the case may be; and a reference to any such substance shall include a reference to any mixture containing such substance, other than a residual mixture or a mixture which is itself a substance of another Category;

"chemical tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry a cargo of noxious liquid substances in bulk and an oil tanker when carrying a cargo or part cargo of noxious liquid substances in bulk;

"class-approved" means, in relation to a substance of a particular category or a non-polluting substance,

"clean ballast" means ballast carried in a tank which, since it was last used to carry a noxious liquid substance in bulk, has been thoroughly cleaned and the residues resulting therefrom have been discharged and the tank emptied in accordance with the appropriate requirements of these Regulations;

"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

provided that a ship which has been converted into a chemical tanker shall, irrespective of its date of construction, be treated as a chemical tanker constructed on the date on which such conversion commenced;

"high residue substance" means, in relation to a Category B or Category C substance, a substance identified in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual as likely, due to its viscosity or melting point at its unloading temperature, to result in a residue quantity from any tank which exceeds, in the case of a Category B substance, 1 cubic metre or 1/3,000th of the capacity of that tank or, in the case of a Category C substance, 3 cubic metres or 1/1,000th of the capacity of that tank, whichever is the greater;

"IBC Code" means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (1986 edition) published by IMO;

"IBC Code Certificate" means a certificate of compliance with the IBC Code issued in accordance with the IBC Code Regulations;

"IBC Code Regulations" means the Merchant Shipping (IBC Code) Regulations 1987(3);

"IMO" means the International Maritime Organization;

"IMO Standards" means the Standards for Procedures and Arrangements for the Discharge of Noxious Liquid Substances adopted by the Marine Environ-ment Protection Committee of IMO by Resolution MEPC 18(22) on 5th December 1985;

"INLS Certificate" means an International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk issued under MARPOL 1973/78 and, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, in accordance with regulation 24, in the form set out in Appendix V to Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78;

"IOPP Certificate" means an International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate issued in accordance with MARPOL 1973/78 and, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, pursuant to the Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations;

"liquid substance" means a substance having a vapour pressure not exceeding 2.8 bar at a temperature of 37.8 degrees C;

"MARPOL 1973/78" means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended(4);

"Marpol surveyor" means a surveyor appointed by the Secretary of State or by or on behalf of the government of a state party to MARPOL 1973/78;

"nearest land": in relation to all land other than the part of Australia specified below, "from the nearest land" means from the nearest baseline from which the territorial sea of any territory is established in accordance with the Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 1958(5); and in relation to the part of the north-eastern coast of Australia which lies between the points 11° 00'S, 142° 08'E and 24° 42'S, 153° 15'E, "from the nearest land" means from the nearest of the straight lines joining consecutively the following points: 11° 00'S, 142° 08'E; 10° 35'S, 141° 55'E; 10° 00'S, 142° 00'E; 9° 10'S, 143° 52'E; 9° 00'S, 144° 30'E; 13° 00'S, 144° 00'E; 15° 00'S, 146° 00'E; 18° 00'S, 147° 00'E; 21° 00'S, 153° 00'E and 24° 42'S, 153° 15'E;

"non-polluting substance" means a substance listed in Schedule 2 or provisionally listed or class-approved as a non-polluting substance;

"noxious liquid substances" means the substances listed in Schedule 1 (being substances falling into Categories A, B, C and D) and any other liquid substances which are provisionally listed or class-approved as Category A, B, C or D substances;

"oil tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in its cargo spaces and includes a combination carrier when it is carrying a cargo or part cargo of oil in bulk;

"oil-like substance" means a substance listed in Schedule 3 or provisionally listed as an oil-like substance;

"Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations" means the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983(6);

"pre-washed" means washed in accordance with the relevant pre-wash procedures specified in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual;

"Procedures and Arrangements Manual" means a manual complying with the requirements of regulation 19(1);

"provisionally listed" means, in relation to a substance of a particular category or a non-polluting substance or an oil-like substance, listed in Merchant Shipping Notice No. M.1270 and therein identified as a substance falling into that category or as a non-polluting substance or as an oil-like substance as the case may be;

"reception facility" means a tank or similar facility provided at a port or place for the reception of residual mixtures or other liquid wastes containing noxious liquid substances;

"residual mixture" means, in relation to any category of noxious liquid substances, ballast water, tank washings or other mixtures containing residues of a noxious liquid substance of such category, but excludes clean ballast;

"sea" includes all waters navigable by sea-going ships;

"segregated ballast" means ballast water introduced into a tank which is permanently allocated to the carriage of ballast or to the carriage of ballast or cargoes other than oil or noxious liquid substances and which is completely separated from the cargo pumping and piping system and from the fuel oil pumping and piping system;

"ship" means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, hovercraft, submersibles and floating craft and also fixed or floating platforms except when they are actually engaged in exploration or exploitation of the sea-bed or associated off-shore processing of sea-bed mineral resources;

"Special Area" means either the Baltic Sea area or the Black Sea area, defined as follows:

"the Baltic Sea area" means the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the entrance to the Baltic Sea bounded by the parallel of the Skaw in the Skagerrak at 57° 44.8'N;

"the Black Sea area" means the Black Sea with the boundary between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea constituted by the parallel 41°N;

"UKOPP Certificate" means a United Kingdom Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate issued pursuant to the Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations;

"unassessed liquid substance" means a liquid substance which is neither a noxious liquid substance nor a non-polluting substance and is not oil as defined in the Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations;

"United Kingdom ship" means a ship which-

(3) Any reference to a particular Merchant Shipping Notice includes a reference to any subsequent Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it and specifying the date on which such subsequent Notice is to take effect.

Application

2.-(1) These Regulations apply to ships carrying in bulk noxious liquid substances or unassessed liquid substances; provided that ships constructed before 1st July 1986 shall not be required to comply with regulations 5(c) or 11(d) before 1st January 1988.

(2) These Regulations apply to United Kingdom ships wherever they may be and to other ships while they are in the United Kingdom or the territorial waters thereof.

PART IIDISCHARGE AND WASHING OF TANKS

Category A substances-discharge

3.  The discharge into the sea of a Category A substance is prohibited.

Category A-tank washing in all areas

4.-(1) A tank from which a Category A substance has been unloaded shall be washed before the ship leaves the port of unloading.

(2) The resulting tank washings shall be discharged into a reception facility at that port and washing and discharge shall, subject to paragraph (5), continue until the washings at the point of discharge into the reception facility are at or below the concentration ("the prescribed concentration") prescribed for the substance in question-

(a)if the ship is not in a Special Area, in column III of Schedule 1 hereto; or

(b)if the ship is in a Special Area, in column IV of Schedule 1 hereto.

(3) After the tank washings at the point of discharge into the reception facility reach a level of concentration at or below the prescribed concentration, discharge from the tank shall be continued until the tank is empty.

(4) The level of concentration of the Category A substance in the washings at the point of discharge shall be ascertained by analysis of samples taken at that point and verified by a Marpol surveyor or, where there is no Marpol surveyor at that port, by the master.

(5) Where a Marpol surveyor at the port of unloading, or where there is no Marpol surveyor at that port, the master, is satisfied that it is not practicable to measure such level of concentration without undue delay to the ship at that port, the requirements of paragraph (2) shall be sufficiently complied with if-

(a)the tank is pre-washed in accordance with the procedures specified for that tank and substance in the Procedures and Arrangements Manual, and

(b)the Marpol surveyor at the port of unloading or, where there is no Marpol surveyor at that port, the master, records in the Cargo Record Book that

(i)the tank and its pumps and piping systems have been emptied, and

(ii)the pre-wash has been carried out in accordance with the pre-wash procedure approved for that tank and that substance in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual, and

(iii)the tank washings resulting from such pre-wash have been discharged to a reception facility and the tank is empty.

Category A residual mixtures-discharge

5.  The discharge into the sea of a Category A residual mixture is prohibited except where all the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)the effluent consists solely of water added to the tank after it has been emptied in accordance with regulation 4(3) or 4(5); and

(b)the ship is proceeding at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of a self-propelled ship or at least 4 knots in the case of a ship which is not self-propelled; and

(c)the discharge is made below the water line; and

(d)the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 metres.

Category B and C substances-discharge

6.  The discharge into the sea of a Category B or Category C substance is prohibited.

Category B and C-unloading in all areas

7.  Whenever a Category B substance or a Category C substance is unloaded, unloading shall if possible be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual.

Category B and C-tank washing outside Special Areas

8.  Where a Category B substance or a Category C substance is unloaded at a port which is not within a Special Area, then-

(a)if it was impossible for unloading to be carried out as required by regulation 7 or to the satisfaction of a Marpol surveyor, or

(b)in any case where the substance in question is a high residue substance,

every tank from which such substance has been unloaded shall be pre-washed and the resulting tank washings shall be discharged into a reception facility at the port of unloading.

Category B-tank washing in Special Areas

9.  Where a Category B substance is unloaded at a port in a Special Area, every tank from which such substance has been unloaded shall be pre-washed and the resulting tank washings shall be discharged into a reception facility at the port of unloading unless-

(a)unloading was carried out as required by regulation 7 or to the satisfaction of a Marpol surveyor, and

(b)the substance is not a high residue substance, and

(c)the residues are to be retained on board for discharge outside a Special Area.

Category C-tank washing in Special Areas

10.  Where a Category C substance is unloaded at a port in a Special Area every tank from which such substance has been unloaded shall be pre-washed and the resulting tank washings shall be discharged to a reception facility at the port of unloading unless-

(a)unloading was carried out as required by regulation 7 or to the satisfaction of a Marpol surveyor, and

(b)either

(i)the substance is a Category C substance identified in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual as likely to result in a residue quantity from any one tank which does not exceed one cubic metre or 1/3,000th of the capacity of that tank, whichever is the greater, or

(ii)the substance is not a high residue substance and the residues are to be retained on board for discharge outside a Special Area.

Category B and C residual mixtures-discharge

11.-(1) The discharge into the sea of a Category B residual mixture or a Category C residual mixture is prohibited except where all the following conditions are complied with:

(a)all relevant requirements of regulations 7 to 10 have been complied with;

(b)the concentration of the substance in, and the rate of discharge of, the effluent is in accordance with the procedures and arrangements specified in respect of substances of the category in question in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual;

(c)the ship is proceeding at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of a self-propelled ship or at least 4 knots in the case of a ship which is not self-propelled;

(d)the discharge is made below the water line;

(e)the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 metres; and

(f)(i)if the ship is in a Special Area and the substance in question is a Category B substance, the tank from which the discharge is made has been pre-washed (whether or not such pre-wash was required by regulation 9) in accordance with the procedure specified in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual for the substance in question and the resulting tank washings have been discharged to a reception facility; or

(ii)if the ship is in a Special Area and the substance is a Category C substance the maximum quantity of the substance discharged from any one tank and its associated piping system does not exceed the maximum quantity approved in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual for discharge of Category C substances in a Special Area.

(2) Where a tank which contained a Category B or Category C residual mixture has been emptied by a discharge made in accordance with paragraph (1), water thereafter added to that tank may be discharged notwithstanding that the ship is not proceeding as required by sub-paragraph (1)(c), provided that all the other requirements of that paragraph are complied with.

Category D substances-discharge

12.  The discharge into the sea of a Category D substance is prohibited.

Category D residual mixtures-discharge

13.  The discharge into the sea of a Category D residual mixture is prohibited except where-

(a)(i)the ship is proceeding on its way at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of a self-propelled ship or at least 4 knots in the case of a ship which is not self-propelled;

(ii)the concentration of the substance in the effluent is not greater than one part of the substance to ten parts of water; and

(iii)the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land; or

(b)the discharge is made in accordance with regulation 11 as it applies to Category C residual mixtures.

Unassessed liquid substances-discharge

14.  The discharge into the sea of any unassessed liquid substance carried in bulk, or of a residual mixture containing any such substance, is prohibited except where-

(a)the Secretary of State has given written approval to its carriage; and

(b)any conditions relating to discharge and subject to which that approval was given are complied with.

Clean and segregated ballast and non-polluting liquid substances-discharge

15.  Nothing in these Regulations shall prohibit the discharge of clean ballast, segregated ballast or any non-polluting substance.

Emergency discharges

16.  Regulations 3, 5, 6 and 11 to 14 shall not apply to any discharge into the sea of a noxious liquid substance or unassessed liquid substance or mixture containing any such substance-

(a)which is necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea, or

(b)which results from damage to a ship or its equipment, provided that

(i)all reasonable precautions were taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge to prevent or minimise the discharge; and

(ii)neither the owner nor the master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result, or

(c)where the substance or mixture in question is approved by the Secretary of State for use in combating specific pollution incidents in order to minimise the damage from pollution and the discharge is made with the approval of the Secretary of State or, if the discharge is to be made in waters within the jurisdiction of a state other than the United Kingdom, with the approval of the government of that state.

Exemption-Categories A, B and C

17.  Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 3-11 any tank from which a Category A or Category B or Category C substance has been unloaded shall not be required to be washed and the resultant washings discharged before the ship leaves the port of unloading as required by those regulations if a Marpol surveyor at the port of unloading exempts the ship from those regulations on one of the following grounds:-

(a)the tank is to be re-loaded with the same substance or another substance compatible with it and the tank will not be washed or ballasted before such re-loading;

(b)(i)the tank is neither to be washed nor ballasted at sea; and

(ii)the requirements for washing and discharge will be complied with in respect of that tank at another port; and

(iii)it has been confirmed in writing to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State, or if the port is not in the United Kingdom, of the government or other proper authority of the state in which the port is situated, that an adequate reception facility will be available for the purpose at that other port; or

(c)the substance is one for which cleaning by ventilation is stated to be appropriate in the ship's Procedures and Arrangements Manual or is approved by the Secretary of State.

Oil-like substances

18.  Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 6-13 an oil-like substance may be carried on an oil tanker and discharged in accordance with regulation 13 of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations provided that:

(a)the ship complies with the requirements of those regulations applicable to product carriers as therein defined (oil tankers engaged in the trade of carrying oil other than crude oil); and

(b)(i)where the substance in question is a Category C substance and the ship was constructed on or after 1st July 1986, it complies with the damage stability requirements for a Type 3 ship specified in the IBC Code; or

(ii)where the substance in question is a Category C substance and the ship is

(I)a ship for which the building contract was placed on or after 2nd November 1973 and which is engaged wholly or partly on voyages to ports or terminals under the jurisdiction of states parties to MARPOL 1973/78 other than the state in which the ship is registered, or

(II)a United Kingdom ship constructed on or after 1st July 1983 engaged solely on voyages between ports or terminals in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man,

it complies with the damage stability requirements for a Type 3 ship specified in the BCH Code; and

(c)the oil content meter in the ship's oil discharge and monitoring system required by regulation 15(3) of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations is approved by the Secretary of State, or by or on behalf of the government of the state in which the ship is registered, for use in monitoring the concentration of the substance in question; and

(d)the ship carries an IOPP Certificate or a UKOPP Certificate, in either case with the supplement thereto entitled "Record of Construction and Equipment for Oil Tankers"; and

(e)the IOPP Certificate or the UKOPP Certificate as the case may be is endorsed by the Secretary of State, or by or on behalf of the government of the state in which the ship is registered, to indicate that the ship may carry oil-like substances in conformity with Regulation 14 of Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78 and the list in such endorsement of the oil-like substances which the ship is permitted to carry includes the substance in question.

PART IIIDOCUMENTS

Procedures and Arrangements Manual

19.-(1) Every ship shall be provided with a Procedures and Arrangements Manual complying with the IMO Standards.

(2) Such manual shall be approved, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, by the Secretary of State or, in the case of a ship registered in a state party to MARPOL 1973/78, by or on behalf of the government of that state.

(3) A manual approved in accordance with paragraph (2) shall be deemed to comply with the IMO Standards.

(4) The Procedure and Arrangements Manual shall be kept on board the ship in such a place as to be radily available for inspection.

(5) The Procedure and Arrangements Manual shall, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, be in English and, in the case of any other ship, be in, or include a translation into, English or French.

Cargo Record Book

20.-(1) Every ship shall be provided with a Cargo Record Book in the form specified in Appendix IV to Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78.

(2) Whenever any of the following operations takes place in respect of any noxious liquid substance a record of the operation shall be made in the Cargo Record Book in relation to each tank affected by the operation:

(i)loading of cargo;

(ii)internal transfer of cargo;

(iii)unloading of cargo;

(iv)cleaning of cargo tanks;

(v)ballasting of cargo tanks;

(vi)discharge of ballast from cargo tanks;

(vii)disposal of residues to reception facilities;

(viii)discharge of residues into the sea in accordance with regulations 5, 11, 13, 14 or 16;

(ix)removal of residues by ventilation.

(3) In the event that any discharge of the kind referred to in regulation 16 of any noxious liquid substance or mixture containing such substance is made or occurs, an entry shall be made without delay in the Cargo Record Book stating the circumstances of, and the reason for, the discharge.

(4) The entries in the Cargo Record Book, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, shall be in English and, in the case of any other ship, in an official language of the state in which the ship is registered and, where that language is neither English nor French, in English or French. Each entry shall be signed by the officer or officers in charge of the operation and each page shall be signed by the master.

(5) The Cargo Record Book shall be kept in such a place as to be readily available for inspection and, except in the case of unmanned ships under tow, shall be kept on board the ship. It shall be retained on board the ship for a period of 3 years after the last entry in it has been made.

PART IVCONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT

Pumping arrangements

21.-(1) In every ship constructed on or after 1st July 1986 the pumping and piping arrangements serving any tank designated for the carriage of a Category B substance or a Category C substance shall be such that, if the tank were filled with water and pumped out under favourable pumping conditions, the quantity of residue retained in the tank's associated piping and in the immediate vicinity of the tank's suction point would not exceed-

(a)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category B substance, 0.1 cubic metres, or

(b)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category C substance, 0.3 cubic metres.

(2) In every ship constructed before 1st July 1986 the pumping and piping arrangements serving any tank designated for the carriage of a Category B substance or a Category C substance shall be such that if the tank were filled with water and pumped out under favourable pumping conditions-

(a)the quantity of residue retained in the tank's associated piping and in the immediate vicinity of the tank's suction point would not exceed-

(i)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category B substance, 0.3 cubic metres, or

(ii)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category C substance, 0.9 cubic metres; or

(b)until 2nd October 1994 (on which date this sub-paragraph shall cease to have effect) the quantity of residue retained in the tank and its associated pumping system, when added to the surface residue assessment of the tank calculated in accordance with Appendix A to the IMO Standards would not exceed-

(i)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category B substance, 1 cubic metre or 1/3,000th of the capacity of the tank, whichever is the greater, or

(ii)in the case of a tank designated for the carriage of a Category C substance, 3 cubic metres or 1/1,000th for the capacity of the tank, whichever is the greater.

(3) The Secretary of State may exempt from any of the requirements of this regulation any ship which is so constructed and operated that-

(a)ballasting of cargo tanks is not required, and

(b)cargo tank washing is required only for the purposes of repair or dry docking,

subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.

(4) An exemption granted in accordance with Regulation 5A(6) or (7) of MARPOL 1973/78 by or on behalf of a state party to MARPOL 1973/78 to a ship registered in that state shall be treated as equivalent to an exemption granted by the Secretary of State.

Equipment and arrangements

22.  Every ship shall be provided with the equipment and arrangements identified in its Procedures and Arrangements Manual and, where such manual does not comply with regulation 19, with any other equipment and arrangements required to conform to the IMO Standards.

PART VSURVEYS AND RELATED MATTERS

Survey requirements

23.-(1) The structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials of a ship shall be subjected to the following surveys:

(a)an initial survey before the INLS Certificate is issued for the first time, which shall include a complete examination of its structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials in so far as the ship is covered by these Regulations; an initial survey shall be such as to ensure that the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials comply with the applicable provisions of these Regulations;

(b)a periodical survey at intervals not exceeding 5 years which shall be such as to ensure that the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials comply with the applicable provisions of these Regulations;

(c)a minimum of one intermediate survey during the period of validity of the INLS Certificate; in cases where only one such intermediate survey is carried out in any one certificate validity period, it shall be held not before 6 months prior to, nor later than 6 months after, the half-way date of the certificate's period of validity; intermediate surveys, shall be such as to ensure that the equipment and associated pumps and piping systems comply with the applicable provisions of these Regulations and are in good working order; a record of such surveys in the form appropriate to an intermediate survey included in the form entitled "Endorsement for Annual and Intermediate Surveys" set out in Appendix V of Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78 shall be endorsed by the surveyor on the INLS Certificate;

(d)an annual survey within 3 months before or after the anniversary date of the INLS Certificate which shall include a general examination to ensure that the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials remain in all respects satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended; a record of such survey in the form appropriate to an annual survey included in the form entitled "Endorsement for Annual and Intermediate Surveys" set out in Appendix V of Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78 shall be endorsed by the surveyor on the INLS Certificate;

(e)an additional survey, either general or partial according to the circumstances, shall be made when it has been determined under regulation 25(3) to be necessary, or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made; such a survey shall ensure that the necessary repairs or renewals have been effectively made, that the materials and workmanship of such repairs or renewals are satisfactory, and that the ship is fit to proceed to sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment; a record of such survey shall be endorsed by the surveyor on the INLS Certificate, stating that on completion of the survey the ship complied with the relevant provisions of Annex II to MARPOL 1973/78.

(2) Every such survey in the case of a United Kingdom ship shall be carried out by a surveyor appointed by the Secretary of State; and application for such a survey shall be made by or on behalf of the owner to the Secretary of State.

(3) In the case of a chemical tanker in respect of which a BCH Code Certificate or an IBC Code Certificate has been or is to be issued any initial, periodical, intermediate, annual or additional survey required by this regulation may be combined respectively with an initial, periodical, intermediate, annual or additional survey required by regulation 4 of the BCH Code Regulations or regulation 4 of the IBC Code Regulations as the case may be; and in such case references in paragraphs (1)(a) to (e) to the INLS Certificate shall be construed as references to the BCH Code Certificate or IBC Code Certificate as the case may be.

Issue of INLS Certificate

24.-(1) Upon satisfactory completion of an initial or periodical survey the Secretary of State shall issue to a ship which complies with the relevant requirements of these Regulations (except one to which a BCH Code Certificate or an IBC Code Certificate is to be issued) an INLS Certificate. Such certificate shall be issued for a period not exceeding 5 years beginning on the date of completion of the survey in question.

(2) Where a chemical tanker in respect of which a BCH Code Certificate or an IBC Code Certificate has been or is to be issued is so constructed, equipped and arranged that it would, but for the exception contained in paragraph (1), be entitled under that paragraph to an INLS certificate covering substances other than those listed in the BCH Code or the IBC Code as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall, if the owner of the chemical tanker so requests, include in the BCH Code Certificate or IBC Code Certificate as the case may be, provisions covering carriage of those substances by that chemical tanker.

(3) An INLS Certificate shall cease to be valid-

(a)if any survey required by regulation 23(1)(c) or (d) is not completed within the period specified for that survey; or

(b)if any survey required by regulation 23(1)(e) is not completed within such reasonable time as the surveyor may specify; or

(c)upon transfer of the ship to registry in another state.

(4) In either of the cases specified in sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) the owner shall deliver up the certificate issued in relation to the ship to the Secretary of State on demand.

(5) In the case of a ship which has transferred from registry in another state party to MARPOL 1973/78 to registry in the United Kingdom the Secretary of State may, subject to such requirements as to survey or otherwise as he may think fit, if he is satisfied that, notwithstanding that the surveys were not carried out by a surveyor appointed by the Secretary of State as required by regulation 23(2)-

(a)the ship has already been subjected to a satisfactory initial or periodical survey and to any intermediate, annual or additional surveys required; and

(b)the ship was issued by or on behalf of the government of that other state with an INLS Certificate which would, but for the change of registry, have remained valid; and

(c)the condition of the ship and its equipment has been maintained in conformity with the provisions of these Regulations; and

(d)since completion of the surveys referred to in sub-paragraph (a) no change has been made in the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials covered by those surveys without the sanction of the government of that other state or of the Secretary of State, except by direct replacement;

issue to that ship an INLS Certificate for a period to be determined by the Secretary of State, but expiring not later than the expiry date of the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (b).

(6) The INLS Certificate shall be kept on board the ship and shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times.

Maintenance of condition after survey

25.-(1) The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained so as to conform to the provisions of these Regulations.

(2) After any survey of the ship under regulation 23 has been completed, no change shall be made in the structure, equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials covered by the survey, without the sanction of the Secretary of State, except by direct replacement.

(3) Whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, either of which substantially affects the integrity of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of the equipment required by these Regulations, the master or owner of the ship shall report at the earliest opportunity to the Secretary of State, who shall, in the case of a United Kingdom ship, determine whether an additional survey is necessary. If the ship is in a port of another state the master or owner shall also report immediately to the appropriate authority of the government of the state in which the port is situated.

Equivalents

26.  Where these Regulations require that a particular fitting, material, appliance or apparatus should be fitted in a ship, the Secretary of State may allow any other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus to be fitted if he is satisfied that such fitting, material, appliance or apparatus is at least as effective as that required by these Regulations.

Exemptions

27.  The Secretary of State may exempt any ship or class or description of ship from any of the requirements of these Regulations, subject to such conditions as he may specify, and may alter or cancel any exemption so granted.

PART VIOFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Prohibition on uncertificated carriage

28.-(1) No ship shall load in bulk or carry in bulk any Category A, B, C or D substance unless-

(a)(i)there is in force in respect of that ship a valid INLS Certificate or BCH Code Certificate or IBC Code Certificate covering the substance in question or, where the substance is class-approved, the class in question, and

(ii)the loading and carriage is in accordance with the terms of that certificate, and

(iii)where the substance is class-approved, there is on board the ship documentary evidence of the assessment and approval referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) respectively of the definition of "class-approved" in regulation 1(2); or

(b)the substance is an oil-like substance and

(i)there is in force in respect of the ship a valid IOPP Certificate or UKOPP Certificate with the endorsement specified in regulation 18(e) covering the substance in question, and

(ii)the loading and carriage is in accordance with the terms of that certificate and endorsement.

(2) No ship shall carry a class-approved non-polluting substance unless there is on board the ship documentary evidence of the assessment and approval referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) respectively of the definition of "class approved" in regulation 1(2).

(3) No ship shall carry an unassessed liquid substance in bulk unless-

(a)either the Secretary of State, or the government of a state party to MARPOL 1973/78 with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has given written permission for its carriage; and

(b)any conditions subject to which that permission was given are complied with.

Penalties

29.-(1) If any ship fails to comply with any of the requirements of these Regulations the owner and master of the ship shall each be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, on conviction on indictment, by a fine.

(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged under this regulation to show that he took all reasonable steps to ensure that the Regulations were complied with.

Detention

30.  In any case where a ship does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations the ship shall be liable to be detained and section 692(1) to (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894(7) (which relates to the detention of a ship) shall have effect in relation to the ship, subject to the modification that for the words "this Act" wherever they appear, there shall be substituted "the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 1987".

Regs 1(2), 2 to 13, 16, 17 and 28

SCHEDULE 1LIST OF NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES CARRIED IN BULK

Regs 1(2) and 15

SCHEDULE 2LIST OF NON-POLLUTING LIQUID SUBSTANCES CARRIED IN BULK

Regs 1(2), 18 and 28

SCHEDULE 3OIL-LIKE SUBSTANCES

Category C Substances

• Cyclohexane

• p-Cymene

• Diethylbenzene

• Dipentene

• Dodecylbenzene

• Ethylbenzene

• Heptene (mixed isomers)

• 1-Hexene

• 2-Methyl-1-pentenen-Pentane

• Pentene (all isomers)

• 1-Phenyl-1-xylyl ethane

• Propylene dimer

• Tetrahydronaphthalene

• Toluene

• Xylene

Category D Substances

• Alkyl (C₉-C₁₇) benzene mixtures (straight or branched chain)

• Butene oligomer

• Diisopropyl naphthalene

• Dodecane

• Ethylcyclohexane

• Isopentane

• Nonane

• Octanen-Paraffins (C₁₀-C₂₀)

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, with the Merchant Shipping IBC Code Regulations 1987 and the Merchant Shipping BCH Code Regulations 1987, give effect to Annex II to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended by the Protocol of 1978 thereto and as further amended by the amendments thereto adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (the MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization on December 5th 1985.

The Regulations apply to ships carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk. They apply to United Kingdom ships wherever they may be and to other ships when they are in United Kingdom waters.

Noxious liquid substances are divided into four categories, A, B, C and D, in accordance with the severity of the hazard which they present to human health and the marine environment, Category A presenting the worst hazard and Category D the least.

Discharges into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing them are prohibited; and discharges into the sea of liquid wastes containing residues of such substances are strictly controlled (Regulations 3, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13). The worse the hazard which the category of substances presents, the stricter are the controls. Controls are also more stringent in two special areas, namely the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.

The Regulations also prohibit (regulation 14) the discharge of liquid substances which, though not identified as noxious, have not been evaluated and found to be harmless to the marine environment, except with written permission from the government of the state or states concerned.

The Regulations require ships to follow specified procedures when washing cargo tanks (regulations 4 and 8 to 10). The procedures depend on the category of substance carried and on whether or not unloading takes place in a special area. Certain oil-like substances are allowed to be carried and their residues discharged in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983 instead of in accordance with these Regulations, provided (a) that the ship meets extra stability requirements and (b) that its International Prevention of Oil Pollution Certificate is endorsed to indicate the ship's conformity with relevant requirements of these Regulations (regulation 18).

All ships are required to carry a Procedures and Arrangements Manual complying with the Standards for Procedures and Arrangements adopted by the MEPC (regulation 19), and to be provided with the equipment and arrangements specified in that manual (regulation 22). They are also required to carry a Cargo Record Book in which operations involving cargoes of noxious liquid substances have to be recorded (regulation 20).

Every tank designated to carry a Category B or C substance is required to have a pumping system capable of emptying the tank so that the residues remaining after unloading is complete do not exceed, in the case of a new ship, 0.1m³ for a Category B and 0.3m³ for a Category C substance and, in the case of an existing ship, 0.3m³ for a Category B and 0.9m³ for a Category C substance (regulation 21).

Ships are required to be surveyed for the purposes of the regulations, to carry an International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk and to be maintained in accordance with that certificate (regulations 23-25).

Carriage of noxious or unassessed liquid substances in bulk is prohibited except where the ship has the appropriate certificate (regulation 28).

Penalties are prescribed for breaches of the regulations and provision is made for ships to be detained where a breach occurs (regulations 29 and 30).

Copies of the Convention and Codes referred to in the regulations are obtainable from the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE17SR.