The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2024

Type Statutory-Instrument
Publication 2024-04-17
State In force
Department King's Printer of Acts of Parliament
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Made: 17th April 2024

Laid before Parliament: 18th April 2024

Coming into force: 10th May 2024

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 2(1), (2)(a) to (g), (3) and 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution) (Law of the Sea Convention) Order 1996[^f00001], articles 3 and 4 of the Merchant Shipping (Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships) Order 2022[^f00002], sections 128(5) and (6), 302(1) and 306A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995[^f00003], and with the consent of the Treasury, makes the following Regulations.

PART 1 — Preliminary

Citation, commencement and extent

1

Amendments and revocations

2

Interpretation

3

In these Regulations—

Application

4

Ambulatory reference

5

PART 2 — Anti-fouling systems

Prohibitions and requirements for ships

6

PART 3 — Surveys and certification

AFS-Certificates: ships of 400 gross tonnage and above

7

to ensure that the ship’s anti-fouling system complies with regulation 6 (prohibitions and requirements for ships).

a Certifying Authority must issue or endorse an AFS-Certificate in respect of that ship.

AFS-Declarations: ships of less than 400 gross tonnage

8

Cancellation of a certificate

9

to be surrendered.

Availability of certificates and other documents

10

Arbitration

11

but this paragraph does not apply in relation to Scotland.

PART 4 — Enforcement

Offences and penalties

12

is an offence by the owner and master in respect of each case of non-compliance.

Detention

13

PART 5 — Review

Review of these Regulations

14

SCHEDULE — Amendments and revocations

PART 1 — Amendments

The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018

1

The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018[^f00020] are amended as follows.

1

In Schedule 1 (fees under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995), in the table in paragraph 5 (fees for inspections, etc) of Part 1 (surveys, inspections and applications for exemption), in Section J (prevention and control of pollution), at the end, insert—

The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2024 2024/509 None

PART 2 — Revocations

Regulations revoked References Extent of revocation
Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships OJ L 115, 9.5.2003, p. 1–11 The whole Regulation
The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2009 S.I. 2009/2796 The whole Regulations
Merchant Shipping (Ship Inspection and Survey Organisations) (Revocation) Regulations 2011 S.I. 2011/3056 Paragraph 5 to the Schedule
Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution) (Limits) Regulations 2014 S.I. 2014/3306 Schedule 2, paragraph 8
Merchant Shipping and Other Transport (Environmental Protection) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 S.I. 2019/311 Regulations 7, 8 and 9

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Davies of Gower — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Department for Transport — 17th April 2024

We consent to the making of these Regulations

Scott Mann — Joy Morrissey — Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury — 16th April 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (“the Convention”), including amendments to the Convention made by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MEPC.331(76).

These Regulations revoke and replace Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships (formerly part of Retained EU Law) and the Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2796). These instruments implemented the previous version of the Convention.

Anti-fouling systems comprise the coating put on the outside of hulls of ships to prevent the attachment of unwanted organisms. The Convention, adopted on 18th October 2001, came into force on 17th September 2008 and contains provision to ensure that anti-fouling systems do not contain substances which are harmful to marine life and the marine environment.

MEPC.331(76), adopted on 17th June 2021, came into force on 1st January 2023. It amends the Convention to introduce a new prohibition on the use of anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne on ships.

All future amendments to the provisions of the Convention will be automatically given effect in United Kingdom law by way of the ambulatory reference provision (regulation 5) made under the power in section 306A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Part 2 (regulation 6) implements the prohibitions and requirements in relation to the use of organotin compounds acting as biocides, and cybutryne, in anti-fouling systems. These provisions prohibit the application of these substances or, in cases where they have already been applied, require their removal or overlay by a non-prohibited substance by not later than 31st December 2027.

Part 3 (regulations 7 to 11) provides for the survey and certification of ships in relation to compliance with the requirements of Part 2. These provisions apply only to ships engaged on international voyages.

Part 4 (regulations 12 and 13) contains provision for the control and enforcement of the prohibitions and requirements in these Regulations. Regulation 12 makes provision for a number of offences, specifically making it an offence by the owner and master for a ship to be used in contravention of any of certain requirements in regulations 6 (prohibitions etc.), 7 (AFS-Certificates etc.), 8 (AFS-Declarations etc.) and 10 (availability of certificates etc.). This regulation also makes it an offence by a person to breach the requirements in regulation 9(3) (false certification etc.). Regulation 13 contains power to detain a ship in cases of non-compliance with these Regulations.

Part 5 (regulation 14) requires the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of these Regulations and publish a report at the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force and at intervals not exceeding five years after that. Following a review, it will fall to the Secretary of State to consider whether the Regulations should remain as they are, or be amended or revoked. A further instrument would be needed to amend or revoke the Regulations.

The Schedule to these Regulations makes consequential amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1104) to enable fees to be charged in relation to the carrying out of surveys and certain other steps required under these Regulations. It also revokes (amongst other things) Regulation (EC) 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships and the Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2009, which are superseded by these Regulations.

Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003, which is referred to in these Regulations, is the assimilated version of Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 April 2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships (OJ L 115, 9.5.2003, p. 1–11). This was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 536/2008 of 13 June 2008 giving effect to Article 6(3) and Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 and amending that Regulation (OJ L 156, 14.6.2008, p. 10–11) and Regulation (EC) No 219/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 109–154).

Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1613, which is referred to in these Regulations, is available on https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/282032/msn1613.pdf, or in hard copy from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone 020 3817 2000 and email infoline@mcga.gov.uk) or on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency.

The Convention and IMO Resolution MEPC.331(76) may be obtained in copy from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR and the Convention is available on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch/).

Future amendments to the Convention may be obtained in copy from the IMO and, after coming into force in the United Kingdom, found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch/). Until such publication is made on the FCDO treaties database, an amendment will be available from the MCA and on https://www.gov.uk. An amendment will be publicised in advance of its in-force date by means of a Parliamentary Statement to both Houses of Parliament and by way of a Marine Guidance Note, which will be available in copy from the MCA and on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 1996/282, amended by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), Schedule 4, Part 1, paragraphs 3(1) to (3), S.I. 2022/844 and S.I. 2015/664.

[^f00002]: S.I. 2022/1334.

[^f00003]: 1995 c. 21. Section 128 was amended by the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c. 28), section 29, Schedule 6, paragraphs 3(2) and (3) and Schedule 7, Part I and the Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Act 2006 (c. 8), section 2. Section 306A was inserted by the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), section 106. There is another amending instrument but it is not relevant.

[^f00004]: Cmnd 8284. The Convention was adopted on 18th October 2001 and came into force on 17th September 2008. The Convention has been amended by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MEPC.331(76) which was adopted by the IMO on 17th June 2021 and comes into force on 1st January 2023. The Convention may be obtained in copy from the International Maritime Organization of 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR or found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/awweb/pdfopener?md=1&did=70021). The IMO Resolution is available from the International Maritime Organization of 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR and its website (https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.331(76).pdf) or found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch/).

[^f00005]: The Chemical Abstracts Service assigns a unique identification number to every chemical substance described in open scientific literature.

[^f00006]: S.I. 1997/1510, amended by S.I. 1998/1916, 1999/3206, 2020/362 and 2023/246; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

[^f00007]: S.I. 2014/3306. There are amending instruments but none is relevant.

[^f00008]: This Convention (the “UNCLOS” Convention) was published in Cmnd. 8941, and subsequently in Cmnd. 4524. Hard copies of the Command Papers are available for inspection free of charge but by appointment at the Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0PW. A copy of the Convention may be obtained from the United Nations.

[^f00009]: MEPC.358(78) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization on 10th June 2022 and is available from the International Maritime Organization of 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR or found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office treaties database (https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch/).

[^f00010]: S.I. 2009/2796, amended by S.I. 2011/3056, 2014/3306 and 2019/311. This instrument is also revoked by these Regulations.

[^f00011]: S.I. 2015/508. There are amending instruments but none is relevant.

[^f00012]: The prescribed fee is found in the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1104).

[^f00013]: S.I. 1998/2241, amended by S.I. 2000/1335; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

[^f00014]: Merchant Shipping Notice 1613 No. M.1613 is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/merchant-shipping-notices-msns and in hard copy from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone 020 3817 2000 and email infoline@mcga.gov.uk).

[^f00015]: 2007 c. 15. There are amendments to the Act but none is relevant.

[^f00016]: Section 284 was amended by Schedule 1 to the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c. 28) and S.I. 2015/664.

[^f00017]: Section 96(7) was amended by Part 1 of Schedule 10 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15) and by Schedule 11 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4). Section 96(10) was repealed by Schedule 4 to the Arbitration Act 1996 (c. 23).

[^f00018]: Section 95 was amended by Schedule 1 to the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c. 28).

[^f00019]: 2015 c. 26. Section 30(3) was amended by the Enterprise Act 2016 (c. 12), section 19 and the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), Schedule 8, Part 2, paragraph 36. There is another Act which amends section 28 but it is not relevant.

[^f00020]: S.I. 2018/1104, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

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