Search Legislation

The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 592

Merchant Shipping

Safety

The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021

Made

17th May 2021

Laid before Parliament

24th May 2021

Coming into force

30th June 2021

The Secretary of State in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 85(1), (3)(a), (d) and (f), (6) and (7) and 86(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(1), and having consulted the persons referred to in section 86(4) of that Act, makes the following Regulations.

Citation. commencement and extentU.K.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021 and come into force on 30th June 2021.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 1 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

InterpretationU.K.

2.  In these Regulations—

“cargo ship” means a mechanically propelled ship that is not a—

(a)

passenger ship;

(b)

warship;

(c)

fishing vessel; or

(d)

pleasure vessel;

“passenger” means any person carried on a ship except—

(a)

a person employed or engaged in any capacity on the business of the ship;

(b)

a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons, or by reason of any circumstance that neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) could have prevented or forestalled; or

(c)

a child of under one year of age;

“passenger ship” means a ship which carries more than 12 passengers;

“pleasure vessel” means—

(a)

any vessel which at the time it is being used is—

(i)

in the case of a vessel wholly owned by—

(aa)

an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner; or

(bb)

a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends; and

(ii)

on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner does not receive money for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion; or

(b)

any vessel wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of the club or their immediate family; and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club,

where, in the case of any vessel referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) no other payments are made by or on behalf of the users of the vessel, other than by the owner; and in this definition “immediate family” means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the relative’s spouse or civil partner, and “relative” means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant.

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 2 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

ApplicationU.K.

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations apply to—

(a)United Kingdom ships which are cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons and which are 24 metres or more in length, wherever they may be; and

(b)non-United Kingdom cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons and which are 24 metres or more in length, while they are within United Kingdom waters.

(2) These Regulations do not apply to—

(a)non-United Kingdom cargo ships exercising the right of—

(i)innocent passage; or

(ii)transit passage through straits used for international navigation; and

(b)any naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by a State and used, for the time being, only on government, non-commercial service.

(3) In this regulation—

“gross tons” means the gross tonnage of a ship determined in accordance with the Schedule (Gross Tonnage);

“length” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998(2).

Commencement Information

I3Reg. 3 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

Bilge water level detectors and alarmsU.K.

4.—(1) A ship to which these Regulations apply must, [F1from] its effective date, have a bilge water level detector installed in—

(a)any engine room; and

(b)any other space where bilge water is likely to accumulate.

(2) A bilge water level detector referred to in paragraph (1) must sound an audible alarm which meets the requirements of paragraph (3)

(a)at the control position, immediately upon the bilge water reaching the relevant level; and

(b)in all accommodation spaces, if the alarm has not been switched off at the control position after 30 seconds of the bilge water reaching the relevant level.

(3) The alarm must sound at a volume which—

(a)in the case of the control position, will be heard; and

(b)in the case of an accommodation space, is capable of waking a sleeping person,

in all of the weather and operational conditions reasonably anticipated to be applicable to that ship.

(4) Where a ship is fitted with more than one bilge water level detector, there must be a visual alarm at the control position which shows which of the bilge water level detectors has detected water reaching the relevant level.

(5) The bilge water level detectors and associated alarms required by this regulation must be able to continue to operate when the ship’s main power supply is not in operation.

(6) In this regulation—

“accommodation space” means a space used as a public space, corridor, lavatory, cabin, office, hospital, cinema, games and hobby room, barber shop, pantry without cooking appliances or any similar space;

“bilge water” means any water or other liquids that collect in the bilge;

“bilge water level detector” means a device which detects the level of bilge water in the bilge;

“control position” means the area from which the command and navigation of the ship is carried out;

“effective date” means—

(a)

[F229th March 2023, in the case of a new ship first launched on or before that date, and, in the case of a new ship first launched after that date, the date on which the ship is first launched; and]

(b)

in the case of any other ship to which these Regulations apply, the first anniversary of the date that these Regulations come into force;

“new ship” means a ship the keel of which is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force;

“relevant level” means a level of bilge water that—

(a)

is the maximum level that may be reached before the buoyancy and stability of the ship is threatened; and

(b)

provides reasonable time for persons on board the ship to take action to prevent the buoyancy and stability of that ship being compromised;

“similar stage of construction” means the stage at which—

(a)

construction identifiable with a particular ship begins; and

(b)

assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or one per cent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is the less.

ExemptionsU.K.

5.—(1) The Secretary of State may grant exemptions from all or any of the requirements of these Regulations (as may be specified in the exemption) for individual cases or classes of case on such terms (if any) as the Secretary of State may specify if satisfied that—

(a)in any particular case or class of case compliance with such requirement or requirements is either impracticable or unreasonable; and

(b)the exemption is subject to such conditions and limitations as will provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the requirement or requirements from which the exemption is being granted.

(2) The Secretary of State may, on giving reasonable notice, alter or cancel an exemption that is granted in accordance with paragraph (1).

(3) An exemption granted under paragraph (1) and alteration or cancellation under paragraph (2) must—

(a)be in writing;

(b)specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c)confirm the conditions (if any) on which it is given.

(4) In this regulation “in writing” includes the provision of such communication by electronic mail, facsimile or similar means which is capable of producing a document containing the text of any communication.

Commencement Information

I5Reg. 5 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

Offence and penaltiesU.K.

6.—(1) If a ship to which these Regulations apply does not meet the requirements of regulation 4, each of the owner, manager, demise charterer and master of that ship will, in respect of each case of non-compliance, be guilty of an offence.

(2) An offence under paragraph (1) is punishable—

(a)on summary conviction—

(i)in England and Wales by a fine; or

(ii)in Scotland or Northern Ireland by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations it is a defence for the defendant to show that all reasonable steps had been taken by the defendant to ensure compliance with these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I6Reg. 6 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

DetentionU.K.

7.—(1) A ship that does not meet the requirements of regulation 4 is liable to be detained until it complies.

(2) Section 284 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(3) (enforcing detention of a ship) applies to that detention as if references to the detention of a ship under that Act were references to the detention of the ship under these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I7Reg. 7 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Robert Courts

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

Regulation 3

SCHEDULEU.K.Gross Tonnage

1.  The “gross tonnage” of a United Kingdom ship is to be determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4, and the “gross tonnage” of a ship other than a United Kingdom ship is to be determined in accordance with paragraphs 5 to 7.U.K.

Commencement Information

I8Sch. para. 1 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

2.  In this Schedule—U.K.

“the 1997 Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997(4);

“length” has the same meaning as in the 1997 Regulations; and

“the Tonnage Convention” means the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969(5).

Commencement Information

I9Sch. para. 2 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

United Kingdom shipsU.K.

3.  In the case of a ship of 24 metres in length or over for which the Secretary of State permits the continuing use of a gross tonnage pursuant to regulation 12(1) (use of gross tonnage ascertained under previous Regulations) of the 1997 Regulations, the “gross tonnage” is the smaller of—

(a)the largest gross tonnage permitted for that ship pursuant to regulation 12(1) of the 1997 Regulations; and

(b)the gross tonnage of the ship determined in accordance with regulation 6 (gross tonnage) of the 1997 Regulations.

Commencement Information

I10Sch. para. 3 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

4.  In the case of any other ship of 24 metres in length or over, the “gross tonnage” is the gross tonnage of the ship determined in accordance with regulation 6 (gross tonnage) of the 1997 Regulations.

Commencement Information

I11Sch. para. 4 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

Ships other than United Kingdom shipsU.K.

5.  Subject to paragraph 6, in the case of a ship which has a gross tonnage determined in accordance with the Tonnage Convention, the “gross tonnage” is that gross tonnage.

Commencement Information

I12Sch. para. 5 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

6.  Where a ship has a gross tonnage determined in accordance with the Tonnage Convention but the ship’s flag State permits the use of some other gross tonnage, the “gross tonnage” of the ship is the smaller of—

(a)the largest gross tonnage permitted by the flag State to be used for that ship; and

(b)the gross tonnage determined in accordance with the Tonnage Convention.

Commencement Information

I13Sch. para. 6 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

7.  In the case of a ship which does not have a gross tonnage determined in accordance with the Tonnage Convention, the “gross tonnage” is the gross tonnage or equivalent measure determined in accordance with the law of the ship’s flag State, and where the ship has more than one such gross tonnage or equivalent measure, the “gross tonnage” is to be taken to be the largest of them.

Commencement Information

I14Sch. para. 7 in force at 30.6.2021, see reg. 1(1)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement and supplement Recommendation 2009/141 of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report on the investigation into the flooding and foundering of the grab hopper dredger Abigail H in the Port of Heysham of July 2009 (‘the Report’).

The Regulations apply to United Kingdom ships which are cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons and which are 24 metres or more in length, wherever they might be, and to non-United Kingdom cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons and which are 24 metres or more in length while they are within United Kingdom waters and not exercising the right of innocent passage or transit passage (regulation 3).

Regulation 4 requires bilge water level detectors to be installed in any engine room and in any other space in which bilge water is likely to accumulate, and for those detectors to sound an audible alarm at the control position and in all accommodation spaces in the circumstances described.

The Regulations make provision for exemptions (regulation 5), offences and penalties (regulation 6) and the detention of ships (regulation 7).

A draft of these Regulations was notified on 2nd October 2020 to the European Commission in accordance with the Technical Standards Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/1535).

Guidance supporting these Regulations has been published in a Marine Guidance Note (MGN 651(M)). Copies of the Report and of MGN 651(M) may be obtained free of charge at https://www.gov.uk or in hard copy from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG.

An impact assessment of the effect this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside these Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1)

1995 c. 21. Sections 85 and 86 were amended by the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c. 28), sections 8 and 29(2) and Schedule 7, Part 1. Section 85 was amended by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), section 2(3). There are other amendments to section 85 which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(2)

S.I. 1998/2241. The definition of “length” was substituted by S.I. 2000/1335.

(3)

Section 284 was amended by the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c. 28), Schedule 1, paragraph 5, and S.I. 2015/664, Schedule 4, Part 1, paragraph 27(1) and (15).

(5)

The Tonnage Convention was published by Cmnd. 4332 and subsequently in Cmnd. 8716. An electronic copy of the Tonnage Convention is available via the Foreign and Commonwealth office treaties database ( https://treaties.fco.gov.uk/awweb/pdfopener?md=1&did=68110). A hard copy of Cmnd. 8716 is available for inspection free of charge but by appointment at the Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, London SW1A 0PW (catalogue number: HL/PO/JO/10/11/2156/147).

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Memorandum

Explanatory Memorandum sets out a brief statement of the purpose of a Statutory Instrument and provides information about its policy objective and policy implications. They aim to make the Statutory Instrument accessible to readers who are not legally qualified and accompany any Statutory Instrument or Draft Statutory Instrument laid before Parliament from June 2004 onwards.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources