# The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2024, Regulation 7: AFS-Certificates: ships of 400 gross tonnage and above


(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to a ship which is—
(a) of 400 gross tonnage and above; and
(b) engaged on an international voyage.
(2) This regulation does not apply to a fixed or floating platform, a floating storage unit or a floating production storage and off-loading unit.
(3) A ship to which this regulation applies must be subjected to—
(a) an initial survey—
(i) before the ship is put into service; or
(ii) when the ship is for the first time in a dry-dock for the application of anti-fouling systems; and
(b) a survey when the anti-fouling systems are changed or replaced,
to ensure that the ship’s anti-fouling system complies with regulation 6 (prohibitions and requirements for ships).
(4) An initial survey under paragraph (3)(a) or a survey under paragraph (3)(b) must be carried out in accordance with Annex 4 to the Convention, having regard to the guidelines for survey and certification of anti-fouling systems on ships contained in the Annex to the International Maritime Organization Resolution MEPC.358(78).
(5) Subject to payment of the prescribed fee for a survey and on being notified that the surveyor—
(a) has carried out an initial survey under paragraph (3)(a) or a survey under paragraph (3)(b); and
(b) is satisfied at the date of the survey that the ship complies with each requirement of regulation 6 applicable to it,
a Certifying Authority must issue or endorse an AFS-Certificate in respect of that ship.
(6) A ship must not proceed on any voyage or, if it is already on a voyage, continue on that voyage, unless there is in relation to the ship—
(a) an AFS-Certificate issued or endorsed under paragraph (5); or
(b) an AFS-Certificate issued prior to the coming into force of these Regulations, as required under regulation 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2009, and which is still in force.
(7) In this regulation—
“Certifying Authority” has the meaning given to it in regulation 4 of the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015 (certifying authorities);
“prescribed fee” means the fee prescribed by the Secretary of State under section 302 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (fees);
“surveyor” means a surveyor appointed by a Certifying Authority, and “survey” means a survey carried out by a surveyor.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/509/regulation/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-anti-fouling-systems-regulations-2024/regulation-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.