The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous or Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 1996

Responsibilities of owner and master

11.—(1) The owner and master of every ship to which this regulation applies shall ensure that—

(a) the condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained so as to conform to the appropriate Regulations;

(b) after any survey of the ship required by these Regulations has been completed, no material change shall be made to the structure, equipment, fittings, arrangements and materials which were subject to the survey, without the approval of the Secretary of State except by direct replacement;

(c) whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, either of which affects the safety or integrity of the ship, the safety of the crew or the efficiency or completeness of the equipment required by these Regulations—

(i) it shall be reported at the earliest opportunity to the Secretary of State;

(ii) if a United Kingdom ship is in a port outside the United Kingdom it is also reported immediately to the appropriate authority of the country in which the port is situated.

(2) Whenever an accident or defect is reported to the Secretary of State under subparagraph (c), the Secretary of State shall cause investigations to be initiated to determine whether a survey by a surveyor is necessary and shall, is appropriate require such a survey to be carried out.

(3) This regulation applied to—

(i) United Kingdom ships; and

(ii) except as regards subparagraph (1)(a) above, other ships which have been surveyed pursuant to these Regulations.