The Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987

Safety precautions for loading, unloading or transfer

21.—(1) The operator of any berth where any liquid dangerous substance is loaded or unloaded in bulk shall, after consultation with the harbour authority, prepare a list showing the main safety precautions to be taken before and during such loading or unloading but this duty shall not extend to any transfer to which paragraph (4) applies.

(2) The master of the vessel and the operator of the berth where any liquid dangerous substance is loaded or unloaded in bulk shall ensure that the safety precautions in the list referred to in paragraph (1) are carried out.

(3) The loading or unloading of any liquid dangerous substance in bulk shall not begin unless the master of the vessel or a person designated by him and the berth operator or a person designated by him (who shall not be the same person as the person designated by the master) have both signed two copies of the list referred to in paragraph (1) to confirm that the relevant precautions set out on the list have been or, in the case of those which are to continue during loading or unloading, are being taken and each shall keep one of those copies available for inspection throughout the loading or unloading.

(4) A liquid dangerous substance shall not be transferred by pipeline between two vessels unless the masters of those vessels have–

(a) consulted each other on the appropriate safety precautions to be taken;

(b) prepared a list showing the main safety precautions to be taken before and during the transfer; and

(c) both signed two copies of that list to confirm that the relevant precautions set out therein have been or, in the case of those which are to continue during the transfer, are being taken.

(5) The master of each vessel involved in the transfer referred to in paragraph (4) shall–

(a) carry out the appropriate safety precautions in the list referred to in paragraph (4)(b); and

(b) keep one signed copy of that list available for inspection throughout the transfer.

(6) The berth operator shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that at all times when a vessel loading, carrying or unloading a liquid dangerous substance in bulk is at the berth, means of giving an effective warning of an emergency to people in the vicinity are installed at the berth.