Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations, 1997Part 1 : General6. General duties of shipowner, master or employer |
| (1) | A shipowner, master or employer of persons aboard a vessel must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that dangerous goods or marine pollutants are handled, stowed or carried in the vessel in a manner in which the handling, stowage and carriage of the goods or marine pollutants shall not pose a risk to the health or safety of any person or the environment. |
| (2) | The shipowner's, employer's or master's duty under subregulation (1) include— |
| (a) | the provision and maintenance of the vessel's structure, fittings and equipment for handling, stowage and carriage of dangerous goods or marine pollutants that is, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health and safety of persons and the environment; and |
| (b) | the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety aboard vessel of all employees in connection with the handling, stowage and carriage of dangerous goods or marine pollutants on board the vessel; and |
| (3) | If a shipowner, employer or master fails to comply with this regulation the shipowner, employer or master is guilty of an offence. |
| (4) | It is a good defence to a charge under this regulation in relation to the handling of dangerous goods for a person to show that such handling was carried out in accordance with the appropriate provisions of a mandatory IMO adopted Code or legislation of the Republic. |
[Regulation 6 substituted by section 9 of the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Amendment Regulations, 2026, Notice No. 3979, GG54853, dated 19 June 2026]