Explanatory note

These Regulations require chemical tankers built on or after 1st July 1986 and carrying polluting or dangerous liquid substances in bulk, and ships undergoing major conversion on or after that date to being chemical tankers carrying such substances, to comply with the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk which was adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (“the MEPC”) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 5th December 1985. The Code so adopted is an amended version of the Code of that name adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of IMO on 17th June 1983 (the MSC version). The MSC version covered dangerous substances only.

The amended version extends the Code to cover carriage of pollution hazard substances of Categories A, B and C as defined in the Code, and makes minor changes to the construction requirements of the Code.

The Regulations give effect to regulation 13(2) of Annex II to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as set out in the amendments thereto adopted by the MEPC on 5th December 1985. Annex II comes into force internationally on 6th April 1987.

They also replace the Merchant Shipping (Chemical Tankers) Regulations 1986 which made the MSC version of the Code compulsorily applicable under United Kingdom law, thus giving effect to Part B of Chapter VII of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended in 1981 and 1983. To that extent these Regulations are consolidating regulations.

Copies of the Code and of Annex II as adopted by the MEPC are obtainable from the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.