Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 and shall come into force on 20th July 1993.

Amendments of 1983 Regulations

2. The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983 (2) shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 2

SCHEDULEAMENDMENTS OF MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF OIL POLLUTION) REGULATIONS 1983

Regulation 1

1.-(1) Regulation 1(2) shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the end of the definition of "the Convention" there shall be added the following-

• "and as further amended by the amendments adopted by the Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee on 7th September 1984, 16th November 1990, 4th July 1991 and 6th March 1992".

(3) In the definition of "major conversion", for the words from "but" to the end there shall be substituted the following-

• "but conversion of-

  (i)

  an existing oil tanker of 20,000 tons deadweight and above to meet the requirements of regulation 18; or

  (ii)

  an existing oil tanker to meet the requirements of regulation 29A or 29B;

  shall not be deemed to constitute a major conversion;".

(4) For the definition of "the Organisation" there shall be substituted the following definition-

• ""the Organisation" and "the Organization" mean the International Maritime Organization;".

Regulation 12

2.-(1) For paragraph (2) of regulation 12 there shall be substituted the following paragraph-

"(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this regulation, a ship to which this regulation applies shall not discharge oil or oily mixture into any part of the sea unless all the following conditions are satisfied-

(a)the ship is proceeding on a voyage;

(b)the ship is not within a special area;

(c)the oil content of the effluent does not exceed 15 ppm; and

(d)the ship has in operation equipment as required by regulation 14.".

(2) Paragraph (3) of regulation 12 shall be omitted, and the following new paragraph (3) shall be substituted for it-

"(3) In the case of a ship referred to in paragraph (7) of regulation 14 (that is to say, a ship delivered before 6th July 1993) which by virtue of that paragraph is for the time being not required to be fitted and is not in fact fitted with the equipment with which, but for that paragraph, it would be required by paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of that regulation to be fitted, paragraph (2) of this regulation shall not apply until-

(a)6th July 1998; or

(b)the date on which the vessel is so fitted;

whichever is the earlier.Even so, until that date (that is to say, the earlier of the two said dates) the ship shall not discharge oil or oily mixture into the sea unless all the following conditions are satisfied-

(i)the ship is not within a special area;

(ii)the ship is more than 12 miles from the nearest land;

(iii)the ship is proceeding on a voyage;

(iv)the oil content of the effluent is less than 100 ppm; and

(v)the ship has in operation oily-water separating equipment of a design which is approved as being in accordance with the specification set out in Schedule 3 hereto.".

Regulation 13

3. For sub-paragraph (d) of regulation 13(2) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph-

"(d)the instantaneous rate of discharge of oil content does not exceed 30 litres per mile;".

Regulation 14

4. For regulation 14 there shall be substituted the following regulation-

"Oil filtering equipment and oil discharge monitoring and control system

14.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (7) of this regulation, every ship to which these Regulations apply and which is of 400 GRT and above but less than 10,000 GRT shall be fitted with oil filtering equipment complying with paragraph (5) of this regulation; and any such ship which carries ballast water in its bunker fuel tanks shall, in addition, either-

(a)comply with the following requirements, that is to say-

(i)that it be provided also with arrangements complying with paragraph (6) of this regulation for an alarm and for automatically stopping any discharge of oily mixture when the oil content in the effluent exceeds 15 ppm; and

(ii)that, in accordance with paragraph (2) of regulation 24 (and notwithstanding that the ship may not be a ship referred to in paragraph (1) of that regulation)-

(A)it does not discharge such ballast water into the sea unless using that equipment and those arrangements; and

(B)an entry of such discharge is made in the Oil Record Book; or

(b)in accordance with the said paragraph (2) of regulation 24 (and notwithstanding as stated in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above), discharge the ballast water to reception facilities.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (7) of this regulation, every ship to which these Regulations apply and which is of 10,000 GRT and above shall be provided with-

(a)oil filtering equipment complying with paragraph (5) of this regulation; and

(b)oil content measuring equipment fitted with an alarm device for 15 ppm and with arrangements for automatically stopping any discharge of oily mixture when the oil content in the effluent exceeds 15 ppm, all complying with paragraph (6) of this regulation.

(3) A ship engaged exclusively on voyages within special areas need not comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of this regulation if the Secretary of State has waived those requirements for that ship, provided that all the following conditions are complied with-

(a)that the ship is fitted with a holding tank having a volume adequate, to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State, for the total retention on board of oily bilge water;

(b)that all oily bilge water is retained on board for subsequent discharge to reception facilities;

(c)that the Secretary of State has determined that adequate reception facilities are available to receive such oily bilge water in a sufficient number of ports or terminals that the ship calls at;

(d)that the IOPP Certificate, when required, is endorsed to the effect that the ship is exclusively engaged on voyages within special areas;

(e)that the quantity, time, and port of the discharge of oily bilge water are recorded in the Oil Record Book.

(4) Subject to paragraph (7) of this regulation, every ship to which these Regulations apply and which is of less than 400 GRT shall, so far as reasonably practicable and (if the ship is a United Kingdom ship) to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State, be equipped with installations to ensure that oil or oily mixtures are either retained on board and discharged to reception facilities or, if discharged into the sea, are so discharged in accordance with the conditions stated in regulation 12(2).

(5) In order to comply with this paragraph, the oil filtering equipment shall be of an approved design which is in accordance with the specification for such equipment set out in Schedule 3 hereto.

(6) In order to comply with this paragraph, the oil content measuring equipment and alarm device shall be of an approved design which is in accordance with the specification for such equipment set out in Schedule 3 hereto, and the arrangements for automatically stopping any discharge shall be of an approved design.

(7) A ship delivered before 6th July 1993 need not comply with the foregoing requirements of this regulation before 6th July 1998; but, if the ship does not so comply before that date, it shall be fitted with oily-water separating equipment which is such as to ensure that any oily mixture discharged into the sea after passing through the equipment has an oil content not exceeding 100 ppm.".

Regulation 15

5. In sub-paragraph (d) of regulation 15(3), the following shall be substituted for the second sentence-

"A manually operated alternative system shall be provided and may be used in the event of such a failure, but the defective unit shall be made operable as soon as possible.If a tanker with a defective unit is within the United Kingdom or the territorial waters thereof, the Secretary of State may allow the tanker to undertake one ballast voyage before proceeding to a repair port.".

Regulation 16

6.-(1) Regulation 16 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a)for the words "and the Black Sea area" there shall be substituted the words "the Black Sea area and the Antarctic area";

(b)after sub-paragraph (c) there shall be added the following sub-paragraph-

"(d)"the Antarctic area" means the sea area south of 60°".

(3) For paragraph (2) there shall be substituted the following paragraph-

"(2) Subject to the provisions of regulation 11, there shall be prohibited-

(a)in the Antarctic area, any discharge into the sea from any United Kingdom ship of oil or oily mixture; and

(b)in every special area other than the Antarctic area-

(i)any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture from any United Kingdom oil tanker or from any United Kingdom ship of 400 GRT or above other than an oil tanker; and

(ii)any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture from a United Kingdom ship of less than 400 GRT other than an oil tanker, except when the oil content of the effluent without dilution does not exceed 15 ppm.".

(4) In paragraph (3)(b)(v) for "regulation 14(7)" there shall be substituted "regulation 14(5) and arrangements complying with regulation 14(6)".

(5) The following paragraph shall be added after paragraph (5)-

"(6) A United Kingdom ship shall not enter the Antarctic area unless-

(a)it is fitted with a tank or tanks of sufficient capacity for the retention on board of all sludge, dirty ballast, tank washing water and other oily residues and mixtures while operating in the area; and

(b)it has concluded arrangements to discharge such oily residues and mixtures at a reception facility after it has left the area.".

Regulation 25

7. The following paragraph shall be added at the end of regulation 25-

"(4) Piping to and from sludge tanks shall have no direct connection overboard other than the discharge connection required by paragraph (3) of this regulation.".

Regulation 28

8. For paragraph (4) of regulation 28 there shall be substituted the following paragraph-

"(4) The length of each cargo tank shall not exceed 10 metres or one of the following values, whichever is the greater-

(a)where no longitudinal bulkhead is provided inside the cargo tanks, the lesser of-

(ii)0.2L;

(b)where a centreline longitudinal bulkhead is provided inside the cargo tanks-

(c)where two or more longitudinal bulkheads are provided inside the cargo tanks-

(i)for wing cargo tanks-

0.2L;

(ii)for centre cargo tanks-

(A)if

is equal to or greater than one fifth-

• 0.2L;

(B)if

is less than one fifth

• where no centreline longitudinal bulkhead is provided-

  

• where a centreline longitudinal bulkhead is provided-

  

and in this paragraph "bi" is the minimum distance from the ship's side to the outer longitudinal bulkhead of the tank in question measured inboard at right angles to the centreline at the level corresponding to the assigned summer freeboard.".

Regulations 29A and 29B

9. The following Part shall be inserted after Part 5 (regulations 27 to 29)-

"PART 5A-IMPROVED REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF OIL TANKERS AGAINST OIL POLLUTION IN THE EVENT OF COLLISION OR STRANDING

"New" oil tankers (building contracts after 5th July 1993, etc)

29A.-(1) This regulation applies to oil tankers of 600 tons deadweight and above (beingships to which these Regulations apply)-

(a)for which the building contract is placed on or after 6th July 1993; or

(b)in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after 6th January 1994; or

(c)the delivery of which is on or after 6th July 1996; or

(d)which has undergone a major conversion-

(i)for which the contract is placed after 6th July 1993; or

(ii)in the absence of a contract, the construction work of which is begun after 6th January 1994; or

(iii)which is completed after 6th July 1996.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) of this regulation, every oil tanker of 5,000 tons deadweight and above (being an oil tanker to which these Regulations apply), shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (3) of this regulation; and, in the case of an oil tanker in respect of which regulation 19 makes provision, compliance with the requirements of the said paragraph (3) shall be instead of compliance with the requirements of that regulation.

(3) The entire cargo tank length shall be protected by ballast tanks or spaces other than cargo and fuel oil tanks as follows-

Wing tanks or spaces

(a)Wing tanks or spaces shall extend either for the full depth of the ship's side or from the top of the double bottom to the uppermost deck, disregarding a rounded gunwale where fitted. They shall be arranged in such a way that the cargo tanks are located inboard of the moulded line of the side shell plating, nowhere less than the distance w which, as shown in figure 1 at the end of this regulation, is measured at any cross-section at right angles to the side shell, as specified below-

whichever is the lesser, but with a minimum value of-

Double bottom tanks or spaces

(b)At any cross-section the depth of each double bottom tank or space shall be such that the distance h between the bottom of the cargo tanks and the moulded line of the bottom shell plating measured at right angles to the bottom shell plating as shown in the said figure 1 is not less than specified below

whichever is the lesser, but with a minimum value of h = 1.0 m.

Turn of the bilge area or at locations without a clearly defined turn of the bilge

(c)When the distances h and w are different, the distance w shall have preference at levels exceeding 1.5 h above the baseline as shown in the said figure 1.

The aggregate capacity of ballast tanks

(d)On crude oil tankers of 20,000 tons deadweight and above and product carriers of 30,000 tons deadweight and above, the aggregate capacity of wing tanks, double bottom tanks, forepeak tanks and afterpeak tanks shall not be less than the capacity of segregated ballast tanks necessary to meet the requirements of regulation 18.Wing tanks or spaces and double bottom tanks used to meet the requirements of regulation 18 shall be located as uniformly as practicable along the cargo tank length. Additional segregated ballast capacity provided for reducing longitudinal hull girder bending stress, trim, etc., may be located anywhere within the ship.

Suction wells in cargo tanks

(e)Suction wells in cargo tanks may protrude into the double bottom below the boundary line defined by the distance h provided that such wells are as small as practicable and the distance between the well bottom and bottom shell plating is not less than 0.5 h.

Ballast and cargo piping

(f)Ballast piping and other piping such as sounding and vent piping to ballast tanks shall not pass through cargo tanks. Cargo piping and similar piping to cargo tanks shall not pass through ballast tanks.The Secretary of State may grant exemption from these requirements for short lengths of piping, provided that they are completely welded or equivalent.

(4) (a) Double bottom tanks or spaces as required by paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation maybe dispensed with, provided that the design of the tanker is such that the cargo and vapour pressure exerted on the bottom shell plating forming a single boundary between the cargo and the sea does not exceed the external hydrostatic water pressure, as expressed by the following formula:

(b)Any horizontal partition necessary to fulfil the requirements of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall be located at a height of not less than B/6 or 6 metres, whichever is the lesser, but not more than 0.6D, above the baseline (where D is the moulded depth amidships).

(c)Where the double bottom tanks or spaces are dispensed with pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, the location of wing tanks or spaces shall be in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) of this regulation except that, below a level 1.5 h above the baseline (where h is as defined in paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation), the cargo tank boundary line may be vertical down to the bottom plating, as shown in figure 2 at the end of this regulation.

(5) Instead of complying with the requirements of paragraph (3) or (4) of this regulation,an oil tanker mentioned in paragraph (2) of this regulation may conform to other methods of design and construction, provided that such methods-

(a)ensure at least the same level of protection against oil pollution in the event of collision or stranding; and

(b)have the approval of the Secretary of State based on guidelines developed by the Organization.

(6) For an oil tanker of 20,000 tons deadweight and above (being an oil tanker to which these Regulations apply), the provisions stated in regulation 29(2)(b) regarding the extent and the character of the assumed damage shall be supplemented by the following assumed bottom raking damage-

(a)longitudinal extent-

(i)if the oil tanker is of 75,000 tons deadweight and above-

0.6L measured from the forward perpendicular;

(ii)if the oil tanker is of less than 75,000 tons deadweight-

0.4L measured from the forward perpendicular;

(b)transverse extent-

B/3 anywhere in the bottom;

(c)vertical extent-

breach of the outer hull.

(7) Every oil tanker of less than 5,000 tons deadweight (being an oil tanker to which this regulation applies) shall comply with the following requirements, that is to say-

(a)that the tanker shall be fitted with double bottom tanks or spaces having such a depth that the distance h specified in paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation complies with the following

h = B/15, with a minimum value of h = 0.76m;

(b)that, in the turn of the bilge area and at locations without a clearly defined turn of the bilge, the cargo tank boundary line shall run parallel to the line of the mid-ship flat bottom as shown in figure 3 at the end of this regulation; and

(c)that the tanker shall be provided with cargo tanks so arranged that the capacity of each cargo tank does not exceed 700m³ unless wing tanks or spaces are arranged in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) of this regulation, but with the distance w computed as follows-

• with a minimum value of w = 0.76m.

(8) In an oil tanker to which this regulation applies, oil shall not be carried in any space extending forward of a collision bulkhead located in accordance with regulation 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984(3).

An oil tanker to which this regulation applies and which is not required to have a collision bulkhead in accordance with the said regulation 3 shall not carry oil in any space extending forward of the transverse plane perpendicular to the centreline that is located as if it were a collision bulkhead located in accordance with that regulation.

(9) In approving the design and construction of an oil tanker to which this regulation applies, the Certifying Authority shall have due regard to general safety considerations (including the need for the maintenance of and for inspections of wing and double bottom tanks or spaces).

"Existing" oil tankers (building contracts before 6th July 1993, etc.)

29B.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation, this regulation applies to every crude oil tanker of 20,000 tons deadweight and above and to every product carrier of 30,000 tons deadweight and above (being, in either case, a ship to which these Regulations apply)-

(a)for which the building contract is placed before 6th July 1993 or, in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction before 6th January 1994; and

(b)which is delivered before 6th July 1996.

(2) This regulation does not apply (or, having applied, shall cease to apply) to a crude oil tanker or product carrier which has undergone a major conversion-

(i)for which the contract is placed after 6th July 1993 or, in the absence of a contract, the construction work of which is begun after 6th January 1994; or

(ii)which is completed after 6th July 1996.

(3) This regulation does not apply (or, having applied, shall cease to apply) to an oil tanker which, although not required to comply with the requirements of regulation 29A,-

(a)does in fact comply with-

(i)the requirements of paragraph (3) of that regulation; or

(ii)those requirements as modified in accordance with paragraph (4) of that regulation; or

(b)conforms to other methods of design and construction which satisfy the requirements of paragraph (5) of that regulation;

and, for the purposes of this regulation, an oil tanker which does not meet in all respects the requirements mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph as regards minimum distances between the cargo tank boundaries and the ship side and bottom plating shall be treated as meeting those requirements if

(A) the side protection distance is not less than that which the IBC Code specifies for type 2 cargo tank location (that is to say, the said distance is nowhere less than 760mm from the shell plating); and

(B) the bottom protection distance is not less than the lesser of B/15 and 2 metres (the distances mentioned in regulation 19(4)(b)).

In sub-paragraph (A) above, "IBC Code" means the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (1990 Edition) published by the Organization.

(4) The requirements of this regulation take effect on 6th July 1995.

(5) (a) An oil tanker to which this regulation applies-

(i)if it is a United Kingdom ship, shall be subject to an enhanced programme of inspections during renewal, annual, and intermediate surveys conducted pursuant to regulations 4, 5 and 6;

(ii)if it is not a United Kingdom ship, shall have undergone periodical, intermediate and annual surveys as provided for by the Convention;

and the scope of such surveys shall at least comply (if the tanker is a United Kingdom ship) or have complied (if the tanker is not a United Kingdom ship) with guidelines developed by the Organization pursuant to regulation 13G(3)(a) of Annex I.

(b)An oil tanker to which this regulation applies and which is over five years of age shall carry on board a complete file containing the reports or copies of the reports on surveys of the ship carried out pursuant to-

(i)the requirements of these regulations (if the tanker is a United Kingdom ship);

(ii)the requirements of the Convention (if the tanker is not a United Kingdom ship);

and the file shall contain the results of all scantling measurement required and a statement of all structural work carried out and shall be available for inspection

(A) if the tanker is a United Kingdom ship, by the Certifying Authority, or by the competent authority of the Government of any State (other than the United Kingdom) which is a party to the Convention;

(B) if the tanker is not a United Kingdom ship, by the Certifying Authority.

(c)The file shall be accompanied by a condition evaluation report containing conclusions on the structural condition of the ship and its residual scantlings, and endorsed to indicate that it is considered satisfactory-

(i)if the tanker is a United Kingdom ship, by the Certifying Authority;

(ii)if the tanker is not a United Kingdom ship, by or on behalf of the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.

(d)The file and condition evaluation reports shall be prepared in a standard format in accordance with guidelines developed by the Organization pursuant to the said regulation 13G(3)(a) of Annex I.

(6) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this paragraph, an oil tanker-

(i)which is not a new oil tanker as defined in regulation 17(1); and

(ii)to which this regulation still applies immediately before the expiration of 25 years from the date on which it was delivered;

shall on the expiration of that period become subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3) to (6) and (8) and (9) of regulation 29A, and this regulation shall cease to apply to it.

(b)The tanker shall not become subject to the said provisions of regulation 29A (and this regulation shall not cease to apply to it) until the expiration of 30 years from the date on which it is delivered if on the expiration of 25 years from that date wing tanks or double bottom spaces, not used for the carriage of oil and meeting the width and height requirements of regulation 19(4), cover-

(i)at least 30% of Lt for the full depth of the ship on each side; or

(ii)at least 30% of the projected bottom shell area within the length L;

where L is as defined in regulation 19(2).

(7) An oil tanker-

(a)which is a new oil tanker as defined in regulation 17(1); and

(b)to which this regulation applies immediately before the expiration of 30 years from the date on which it was delivered;

shall on the expiration of that period become subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3) to (6) and (8) and (9) of regulation 29A, and this regulation shall cease to apply to it.

(8) Any new ballast and load conditions resulting from the application of paragraph (6) of this regulation shall, where the oil tanker is a United Kingdom ship, be subject to the approval of the Certifying Authority, and the Certifying Authority shall have particular regard to the longitudinal and local strength, intact stability and, if applicable, damage stability.

(9) Other structural or operational arrangements may be accepted as alternatives to the requirements of paragraph (6) of this regulation, so however that the alternative arrangements ensure at least the same level of protection against oil pollution in the event of collision or stranding and have the approval of the Secretary of State (in the case of a United Kingdom ship) or of the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly (in the case of a ship other than a United Kingdom ship) based on guidelines developed by the Organization pursuant to regulation 13G(7) of Annex I.".

Regulation 30

10. For paragraph (2) of regulation 30 there shall be substituted the following paragraph-

"(2) Unless the discharge is one specified in regulation 11, an offshore installation when so engaged shall not discharge into the sea any oil or oily mixture with an oil content of 15 ppm or more.".

Regulation 31A

11. The following Part shall be inserted after Part 7 (regulation 31)-

"PART 7APREVENTION OF POLLUTION ARISING FROM AN OIL POLLUTION INCIDENT

Shipboard oil pollution emergency plan

31A.-(1) Every oil tanker of 150 GRT and above and every ship (not being an oil tanker) of 400 GRT and above shall carry on board an approved shipboard oil pollution emergency plan; except that, if the ship was built before 4th April 1993, it shall not be required to carry such a plan until 5th April 1995.

(2) The plan shall be in accordance with the guidelines for the development of shipboard oil pollution emergency plans adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the Organization on 6th March 1992 by Resolution MEPC 54(32); and the plan shall include at least-

(i)the procedure to be followed by the master or other persons having charge of the ship to report an oil pollution incident as required by the Merchant Shipping (Reporting of Pollution Incidents) Regulations 1987(4);

(ii)the list of persons (including national and local authorities) to be contacted in the event of an oil pollution incident;

(iii)a detailed description of the action to be taken immediately by persons on board to reduce or control the discharge of oil following an incident; and

(iv)the procedures and point of contact on the ship for co-ordinating shipboard action with national and local authorities in combating the pollution.".

Schedule 1

12. For Schedule 1 there shall be substituted the following Schedule-

Regulation 7(5)

"SCHEDULE 1FORMS OF OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATES

CONTENTS

APPENDIX I INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE FOR SHIPS OTHER THAN OIL TANKERS

APPENDIX II INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE FOR OIL TANKERS

APPENDIX III UNITED KINGDOM OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE FOR SHIPS OTHER THAN OIL TANKERS

APPENDIX IV UNITED KINGDOM OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE FOR OIL TANKERS

NOTES

1. An oil pollution prevention certificate in a form set out in this Schedule shall be supplemented by a Record of Construction and Equipment in the form set out following the form of Certificate.

2. Any reference in this Schedule to a regulation means-

(i)in the IOPP Certificate, a regulation of that number in Annex I of the Convention;

(ii)in the UKOPP Certificate, a regulation of that number in these Regulations.

3. Any reference in this Schedule to a Resolution means a Resolution of that number published by the Organization.

4. In this Schedule-

SBT means segregated ballast tanks;

PL means protective location;

COW means crude oil washing;

CBT means clean ballast tanks."

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983.They give effect to amendments to Annex I to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973.The amendments (in the form of amendments to the 1978 Protocol relating to the Convention) were adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee ("MEPC") of the International Maritime Organization ("IMO") at its 30th, 31st and 32nd Sessions.

The main purposes of the amendments adopted by the MEPC are-

(a)the designation of the Antarctic as a special area;

(b)the introduction of a requirement for ships to carry oil pollution emergency plans;

(c)an increase in the stringency of discharge criteria;

(d)enhancement of the design criteria for new oil tankers; and

(e)modification of the survey and construction requirements for existing tankers.

The amendments adopted by the MEPC are contained in the following Annexes to Resolutions of the MEPC-

(i)Annex 1 to Resolution MEPC 42(30), adopted on 16th November 1990;

(ii)the Annex to Resolution MEPC 47(31), adopted on 4th July 1991;

(iii)the Annex to Resolution MEPC 51(32), adopted on 6th March 1992; and

(iv)the Annex to Resolution MEPC 52(32), adopted on 6th March 1992.

Copies of these Resolutions and Annexes, of other Resolutions published by IMO and referred to in the Schedule to the Regulations, and of the IBC Code (referred to in paragraph (3) of regulation 29B inserted by paragraph 9 of the Schedule) may be obtained from IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR.