The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997

Preparation of goods for transport

11.—(1) The shipper shall not offer packaged goods for carriage unless:

(a) all the conditions specified in the IMDG Code have been complied with in relation to their declaration, classification, marking, packaging, labelling, placarding and prior notification to competent authority or consignee, as appropriate; and

(b) in the case of goods in a portable tank or tank container or vehicle the goods have been properly and safely prepared for carriage by sea by comply with applicable tank requirements in accordance with the IMDG Code.

(2) In preparing any goods for shipment it shall be the duty of the shipper to identify and classify dangerous goods or marine pollutants in order to ensure that the proper precautions and preparations can be made for transport as required by these Regulations.

(3) No declaration required by regulation 10 above shall be signed by the shipper unless paragraphs (1) and (2) have been complied with.

(4) Any contravention of paragraphs (1) to (3) shall be an offence by the shipper.

(5) An operator or master shall not accept for carriage, or take or receive on board any packaged goods where he has reasonable cause to suspect that the goods are not in compliance with paragraph (1). Any contravention of this paragraph by the operator or master shall be an offence.