The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2154) as amended.

The Regulations implement Regulation (EC) No.1726/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22nd July 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No. 417/2002 on the accelerated phasing-in of double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers (O.J. L 249, 01.10.2003, p.1.) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2172/2004 of 17th December 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No. 417/2002 on the accelerated phasing-in of double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers.

The provisions made by these Regulations and by the EC Regulations are also contained in IMO Resolution MEPC.111(50) of 4th December 2003, which amends regulation 13G and inserts regulation 13H of Annex I to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 as amended by its Protocol of 1978 (“MARPOL 73/78”).

The Regulations also amend regulation 35(2) of the 1996 Regulations in order to provide that a ship may be detained where it is suspected contravening the requirements of regulations 12, 13 or 16, which relate to pollution.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

Resolutions and other publications of the International Maritime Organisation can be obtained from IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 75R.