DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS AND 
FACILITIES AND BUNKERING REGULATIONS
1st February, 1996;
1st March, 1996;
1st April, 1996;
1st June, 1996;
1st July, 1996;
1st August, 1996;
1st November, 1996
LEGAL NOTICE 1 of 1996, as amended by Legal Notices 13 of 1996, 152 of 1997 and 75 of
2002.
Arrangement of Regulations
Regulations
Preliminary 1 - 3
Part I General 4 - 10
Part II Ships 11 - 42
Part III Bunker Supply Barges and Bunker Receiving Ships 43 - 69
Part IV Marine Terminal and Facilities 70 - 81
Part V Licensing 82 - 90
Part VI Miscellaneous 91 - 99
Schedule A Notice of Arrival and Status
Schedule B Operational checklists, specimen letter and fire notice
Schedule C Examples of approved Work Permit formats
Schedule D IMO Conventions to which Malta has acceded
Schedule E Fees and Charges
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Preliminary
Citation.  1. The title of these regulations is the Dangerous Cargo Ships,
Marine Terminals and Facilities and Bunkering Regulations.
Purpose. 2. These regulations regulate the movement, transfer, storage,
and handling of dangerous cargoes, bunkers, ballast and tank
cleaning operations on all ships and at all marine terminals and
facilities within or connected to the internal and territorial waters
of Malta.
Definitions. 3. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
Cap. 352.
"Authority" means the Malta Maritime Authority established
under the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"bunker barge" means any sea-craft licensed or authorised by the
Authority to engage in the commercial supply of bunkers to other
ships within the ports, internal and territorial waters of Malta;
"bunkers" means any non-volatile marine grade fuel oil used to
fuel a ship or its machinery and includes lubricating oil;
"bunkering operations" means the actual operation of loading,
discharging or transferring bunkers between a bunker barge or road
tanker or marine terminal or marine facility and a receiving ship;
"bunker operator" means a person, or body corporate
incorporated under the Laws of Malta, duly licensed by the
Authority under these regulations, for the distribution, sale,
exportation or disposal in any other manner of bunkers, or for any
other related activity, whether such person or body corporate is the
party physically transporting or conveying such bunkers to ships or
not;
"cargo handling operations" means the actual operation of
loading, discharging or transferring dangerous cargoes, slops,
residues or dangerous packaged cargoes, between a ship’s tanks,
compartments or containers and/or a quay, marine terminal, marine
facility, vehicles, freight container or other means of transport, or
between ships. It includes transfer to, from or within a warehouse
marine terminal/facilities area, including intermediate keeping, i.e.
the temporary storage of dangerous cargoes in the port area during
their transport from the point of origin to their destination for the
purpose of changing the modes and means of transport;
"cargo interests" means a shipper, carrier, forwarder,
consolidator, packing centre or any other person, company or
institution engaged in any of the following activities:
identification, containment, packaging, packing, securing, marking,
labelling, placarding or documentation.of dangerous cargoes or
dangerous packaged cargoes for receipt by a port and transport by
sea and having control over the cargo at any time;
"cargo measurement" means any act of ullaging, sounding,
gauging, sampling, or any similar act, whether or not carried out in
connection with cargo handling operations;
"certified gas free" means a certificate issued by a competent
person using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines,
certifying that the atmospheres in, or connected to, or immediately
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
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adjacent to any tank, compartment, container or non-sealed
pipelines/pumping systems, etc. have had sufficient fresh air
introduced into them to lower the level of any flammable, toxic or
inert gas to that required for a specific purpose, e.g. hot work, cold
work, electrical work, entry etc.;
"certified inert" means a certificate issued by a competent person
using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines,
certifying that a ship's tank or tanks are in an inert condition,
subject to specified conditions and for a specific period of time;
"chemicals" means substances covered by the IMO "International
Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk", and Annex II of MARPOL 73/78
and having significant fire or explosive hazards equal or in excess
of those of volatile petroleum or similar flammable products, or
significant health, safety or environmental hazards in addition to,
or other than flammability;
"chemical tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted primarily
to carry liquid bulk cargoes of chemical substances as detailed in
the IMO "International Code for the Construction and Equipment
of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk";
"cold work" means any work which cannot create a source of
ignition in or adjacent to the area involved;
"cold work permit" means a certificate permitting specified cold
work during a specific time interval, conjoined with all required
safety resources and procedures being in place throughout the
whole of the permitted period. It must be in a form approved by the
Director (as provided in Schedule C) and issued by a competent
person using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines;
"combination carrier" means a ship constructed or adapted to
carry either liquid petroleum or dry cargoes in bulk;
"competent person" means a duly qualified and experienced
analyst recognised by the Director for the purpose of issuing "gas
free" and "inert" certificates and "work" or "compartment entry"
permits for ships;
"container" includes any freight container, tin, cask, barrel,
drum, package or other article used to contain any dangerous
packaged substances;
"dangerous area" means any area on a ship which for the purpose
of the installation and/or use of electrical equipment is regarded as
dangerous or where toxins dangerous to human life or health may
potentially be present;
"dangerous cargoes", in the absence of a specific description,
means any and all, or any combinations, of volatile substances as
described in the definitions of petroleum, volatile petroleum, solid
bulk dangerous cargoes, oil, liquefied gas, LNG, LPG or chemicals,
carried in bulk and any non-volatile petroleum, solid bulk
dangerous cargoes, oil, liquefied gas or chemicals, carried in bulk,
which may constitute a hazard to human life or the marine
environment in the event of contact or spillage;
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"dangerous packaged cargoes" means any dangerous cargoes or
cargoes covered by the IMDG Code, carried in containers on ships
other than tankers. It includes any empty uncleaned packagings
(such as tank-containers, intermediate bulk containers, bulk
packaging, portable tanks or tank vehicles) which previously
contained dangerous cargoes, unless the packagings have been
sufficiently cleaned of all residues of the dangerous cargoes and
purged of vapours so as to nullify any hazard, or has been filled
with a non-dangerous substance;
"designated safe area" means any area on a ship or on shore
which has been mutually agreed by the ship’s Master and the
marine terminal/facility operator as being safe under prescribed
conditions and during specified times, for particular activities such
as smoking;
Cap. 352.
"Director" means the Executive Director responsible for ports
appointed under article 8 of the Malta Maritime Authority Act, or
any other person or officer authorised by him to act on his behalf;
"electrical isolation certificate" means a certificate issued when
work is to be carried out on electrical equipment or on equipment
powered by electricity, indicating that the electrical supply of such
equipment has been isolated; it must be in a form approved by the
Director (as provided in Schedule C) and issued by a competent
person using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines;
"entry permit" means a certificate issued by a competent person,
using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines,
permitting entry into a space or compartment during a specified
time interval, conjoined with all required safety resources and
procedures required by the Relevant Instruments being properly in
place throughout the whole of the permitted period;
"gas free certificate" means a certificate issued by a competent
person using all Relevant Instrument requirements and guidelines,
confirming that at the time of testing a compartment, tank or
container, it was gas free for the specific purpose stated on the
certificate. Such a certificate shall be issued subject to the
conditions prevailing at the time of testing and for a specified
validity period;
"gas tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted to carry
liquefied gases in bulk as detailed in the IMO "International Code
for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied
Gases in Bulk";
"hazardous zone" means any area on shore which for the purpose
of the installation and/or use of electrical equipment is regarded as
dangerous or where toxins dangerous to human life or health may
potentially be present;
"hot work" means work involving sources of ignition or
temperature sufficiently high to potentially cause ignition of a
flammable gas mixture, including all "naked lights";
"hot work permit" means a certificate permitting specified hot
work to be done during a specific time interval in a defined area,
conjoined with all required safety resources and procedures being
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
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in place throughout the whole of the permitted period. It must be in
a form approved by the Director (as provided in Schedule C) and
issued by a competent person using all Relevant Instrument
requirements and guidelines;
"inert condition" means a condition, as certified by a competent
person, in which the oxygen content throughout the atmosphere of
a tank or other enclosed space has been reduced to 8% or less by
volume, by the addition of inert gas and the tank pressure is
maintained above a minimum of 100 mm on the water gauge;
"inert gas" means a gas or mixture of gases such as flue gas,
nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other inert gas containing insufficient
oxygen to support combustion;
Cap. 352.
"internal waters" shall have the same meaning as is attributed
thereto in article 2 of the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"intrinsically safe" means any equipment or system which is
certified by a recognised authority, under prescribed conditions, as
being incapable under normal or accidental usage, of producing a
spark or thermal effect which could ignite a prescribed gas mixture
and when such equipment has been strictly maintained in the same
condition as when so certified;
"jetty pipeline" means any rigid or flexible pipe used by a marine
terminal/facility, physically located such that if damage occurred to
such a pipeline at any time, substances could egress into any port or
territorial waters;
"lower flammable limit" (LFL) means the concentration of
flammable gas or vapour in air below which there is insufficient
amount of substance to support and propagate combustion;
"liquefied gas" means gases having a vapour pressure exceeding
2.8 bar Absolute, at a temperature of 37.8°C, as detailed in the IMO
"International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships
Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk" and other products as shown in
Chapter 19 of that Code, when carried in bulk;
"liquefied natural gas" (LNG) means the product of liquefaction
of a natural mixture of hydrocarbons;
"liquefied petroleum gas" (LPG) means propane, butane and
propane/butane mixtures in the liquid state;
"marine terminal" means a place where ships are moored or
berthed for the purpose of loading, discharging, handling or
transferring dangerous cargoes, bunkers or substances and/or such
operationally integrated storage or handling areas on land as are
located at or near ports and territorial waters and/or connected
directly to such ships, moorings or berths by pipelines used for the
direct transfer of such dangerous cargoes to those areas;
"marine facility" means an area on land other than a marine
terminal, where ships are moored, berthed or docked to obtain
services such as tank-cleaning, slops/residues removal, repairs,
bunkers, ship construction and any other services related to ships
and maritime activities;
"Master" means the Master or person other than a pilot or
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watchman, having command, charge or management of a ship for
the time being;
"naked lights" means any potential unconfined source of ignition
and includes:
(i) all exposed incandescent material such as fire,
naked light, welding and burning torches, lit
cigarettes, cigars, pipes, cigarette lighters or
similar smoking materials;
(ii) any potential source of spark formation;
(iii) any surface with a temperature that is equal to or
higher than the minimum ignition temperature of
the substances likely to be present in the area of
any operation;
(iv) any and all tools, equipment, electric lighting
systems (including portable radios, torches,
calculators, etc.) not certified as being
intrinsically safe by a recognised authority;
(v) internal combustion engines not being so
approved intrinsically safe, or contained within
an approved explosion proof housing;
"non-volatile petroleum" means a petroleum liquid having a
Flashpoint of 60° Celsius or above as determined by the closed cup
method of testing such as ASTM D93 or equivalent;
"oil" means petroleum in any liquid form and includes crude oil
and any liquid hydrocarbon products derived from it, covered by
Annex 1 of MARPOL 73/78;
"oil-spill" means any incident resulting in an immediate slick of
"Category B" or above, as specified in IMO Resolution A. 542(13),
paragraph 1.2.6;
"oil tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted to carry liquid
petroleum cargo in bulk, including a combination carrier when
being used for this purpose;
"operator" means the managing operator having local operational
control of a marine terminal or facility;
"owner" means owner, disponent owner, charterer to whom a
ship is demised, managing operator or Master of a ship or owner of
its cargo and any agent acting on behalf of such entities;
"person" includes a person or body of persons, whether a body
corporate or not;
Cap. 423.
"petroleum" shall have the same meaning as is attributed thereto
in article 2 of the Malta Resources Authority Act;
Cap. 352.
"port" shall have the same meaning assigned to it in article 2 of
the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"recognised authority" means any authority, organisation,
Classification Society, technical or academic body, or physical
testing facilities, recognised by the Authority and/or IMO from
time to time, for specified functions;
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"Relevant Instruments" means:
( a ) these regulations;
( b ) all the relevant IMO Conventions to which Malta has
acceded (as detailed in Schedule D), or may accede to
from time to time;
( c ) the relevant IMO Codes of Practices;
( d ) the relevant ISGOTT, OCIMF, ICS, SIGTTO,
INTERTANKO and IAPH Guides emanating from
these Conventions and Codes and;
( e ) the current rules of ship Classification Societies;
"residues" means residual 'unpumpable' quantities of cargo
remaining on board a tanker after completion of the discharge or
transfer of any of the cargoes as described in the definition of
dangerous cargoes;
"ship" means every description of craft used in navigation,
whether self-propelled or not, other than a bunker barge licensed or
authorised for the supply of bunkers, handling or having loaded or
intending to load a cargo, the whole or any part of which consists of
dangerous cargoes or substances as described in the definitions of
dangerous cargoes, dangerous packaged cargoes, and substances, in
bulk or containers, or having discharged any of those products, if
the cargo spaces are not certified gas free;
"slops" means any quantities remaining on board a tanker after
tank-cleaning, consisting of a mixture of tank-cleaning fluids and
any of the substances as described in the definitions of petroleum,
non-volatile petroleum, volatile petroleum, oil, liquefied gas,
LNG.LPG chemicals, solid bulk dangerous cargoes, dangerous
cargoes and residues;
"solid bulk dangerous cargoes" means solid bulk substances
possessing chemical hazards and solid bulk substances hazardous
only in bulk, including wastes, covered by Appendix B of the Code
of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes;
"substances", in the absence of a specific description, means any
and all, or any combinations of substances as defined in the
definitions of dangerous cargoes, solid bulk dangerous cargoes,
dangerous packaged cargoes, residues, slops and bunkers, whether
carried as cargo or not, and whether carried in bulk or not;
"tanker" means any ship as described in the definitions of oil
tanker, combination carrier, gas tanker and chemical tanker,
whether self-propelled or not and includes barges or lighters being
wholly used to carry liquid dangerous cargoes in bulk;
Cap. 352.
"territorial waters" shall have the same meaning assigned to it in
article 2 of the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"threshold limit value" (TLV) means the average concentration
of a substance representing conditions under which it is believed
that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day,
without adverse health effects;
"ullage" means the depth of the space above the liquid in a tank;
8 [ S.L.352.13
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"vapour" means a gas below its critical temperature and not in
liquid form;
Cap. 352.
"vessel" shall have the same meaning as that ascribed to "ship" in
article 2 of the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"volatile petroleum" means a petroleum liquid having a
Flashpoint of below 60° Celsius as determined by the closed cup
method of testing such as ASTM D93 or equivalent, or a 'non-
volatile' petroleum liquid being handled at a temperature above its
Flashpoint, minus 10° Celsius;
"waters of Malta" means the internal and territorial waters of
Malta; and
"BC Code" means the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk
Cargoes;
"BCH Code" means the Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk 1985/
1989 and any subsequent amendments;
"COLREGS" means the IMO International Convention for
Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972/1989 and any subsequent
amendments;
"COW" means crude oil washing;
"IAPH" means the International Association of Ports and
Harbours;
"IBC Code" means the International Code for the Construction
and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
1982/1989 and any subsequent amendments;
"ICF" means an International Certificate of Fitness issued by or
on behalf of an Administration in accordance with the relevant
Codes for the construction and equipment of a type of ship,
certifying that the construction and equipment of the ship are such
that certain specified dangerous cargoes may be carried in that
ship;
"ICS" means the International Chamber of Shipping;
"IGC Code" means the IMO International Code for the
Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in
Bulk 1976/1993 and any subsequent amendments;
"IMDG" means the IMO International Maritime Dangerous
Goods Code 1977/1992 and IMDG Code Supplement (including
EmS, MFAG, BC Code, IMO/ILO Guidelines for Packing Cargo in
Freight Containers or Vehicles) and any subsequent amendments;
"IMO" means the International Maritime Organisation;
"IMO Code for Existing Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases" means
the Code for Existing Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk
1976/80 and any subsequent amendments;
"INTERTANKO" means the International Association of
Independent Tanker Owners;
"ISGOTT" means the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
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and Terminals, third edition 1991 and any subsequent amendments;
"MARPOL" means the IMO International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/1978 (including Annexes
1 and 2) and any subsequent amendments;
"NLS Certificate" means the International Certificate for
Prevention of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk;
"OCIMF" means the Oil Companies International Marine Forum
guides, as current and any subsequent amendments;
"SIGTTO" means the Society of International Gas Tankers and
Terminal Operators guides, as current and any subsequent
amendments;
"SOLAS" means the IMO International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea 1974/1978 and any subsequent amendments;
"STCW" means the IMO International Convention on Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978/
199l and any subsequent amendments.
PART I
General
Application of 
regulations.
4. These regulations apply to:
( a ) any ship carrying dangerous cargoes, or the residues or
slops of such cargoes;
( b ) any ship having previously carried such cargoes and
which has not been certified gas free;
( c ) any ship engaging in cargo handling operations, or
handling of slops or residues of such cargoes;
( d ) any ship undergoing inerting, tank cleaning,
gas-freeing or purging operations;
( e ) any bunker barge and bunker receiving ship;
( f ) any road tanker being within any port area for the
purpose of supplying bunkers to ships;
( g ) any terminal and marine facility engaged in the
handling or storage of dangerous cargoes;
( h ) any ship carrying or engaging in cargo handling
operations on dangerous cargoes in packaged form;
( i ) any ship carrying or engaging in cargo handling
operations on solid bulk dangerous cargoes;
( j ) all cargo interests.
Prime obligation.
any cargo, ship and bunker barge Master and owner, marine
terminal or facility operator and cargo interests, shall be the safety
of life, the prevention of pollution to the marine environment, the
effective and efficient control of such pollution and the protection
of the property of others. 
General.
regulation 5 and of the Master of any vessel to ensure that no
10 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
substance is discharged or allowed to escape into the ports, internal
and territorial waters of Malta.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five thousand
liri for each offence.
Reporting. 7. (1) The responsibility for immediate reporting to the
Director of any emergency situation, whether already existing or
perceived to be developing, or of the presence of any substance in
the internal and territorial waters shall rest with the persons
prescribed in paragraphs ( a ) to ( d ), but shall not exclude any other
person from reporting such matters to the Director:
( a ) whilst a ship or bunker barge is underway, anchored or
moored to buoys, reporting rests with the Master;
( b ) whilst a ship or bunker barge is at a berth, jetty or
marine terminal/facility mooring, reporting rests with
both the Master and the operator of such places;
( c ) occurring at or from a marine terminal/facility or
underwater pipelines attached to or controlled by such
places, reporting rests with the operator of such places;
( d ) occurring at any place other than those specified in
paragraphs ( a ) to ( c ), reporting rests with any Master
and any operator or any other person so observing or
perceiving such matters.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand
liri.
Inspection and 
control.
8. (1) Any inspector appointed by the Director can proceed
freely at any time and without previous notice being given, on
board any bunker barge or ship, or within any marine terminal
facility, or to inspect the activities of any cargo interests within the
port to which these regulations apply.
(2) During an inspection an inspector may take a sample or
samples of the cargo or other substances and cause them to be taken
for testing at such places and at such times as the Director may
appoint. The Master, owner or operator, cargo interests, or any
other person appointed by them may be present at such testing.
(3) The persons specified under regulation 5 shall extend their
full co-operation and assistance to any such inspector, including the
presentation of any documents required by such inspector, or the
keeping of which is prescribed by these regulations or the Relevant
Instruments, and the questioning either alone or in the presence of
witnesses, of any person deemed relevant by the inspector to any
inspection or investigation being conducted.
(4) The Director may cause to stop any operation on shore or
on board any ship or barge.
(5) The Director may appoint a person or persons at the risk
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
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and expense of the owner, operator or cargo interests to superintend
the observance of these regulations. The presence of such a person
or persons shall not constitute acknowledgement that these
regulations are being observed, nor shall it relieve the owner,
Master, operator or cargo interests from any responsibility for, or
liability resulting from, any failure to observe these regulations.
(6) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulations (2) and (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
liri for each offence.
Compliance with 
Relevant 
Instruments.
9. Except as may be otherwise determined and instructed by
the Director from time to time, the construction, operations,
equipment, procedures, personnel and practices of all ships
(including non-dangerous cargo ships engaged in the reception of
bunkers), bunker barges, marine terminals and facilities and the
activities of cargo interests, must be in full compliance and carried
out in strict accordance with all the requirements laid down in the
Relevant Instruments.
Intention of the 
regulations in 
respect of the 
Relevant 
Instruments.
10. The operational, procedural, equipment and construction
requirements of these regulations are not intended to be exhaustive,
but are prescribed to supplement, complement, or emphasis some
of the provisions of the Relevant Instruments, taking into
consideration prevailing local conditions and the particular
requirements of the Authority, from time to time.
PART II
Ships
Conditions for 
ships entering 
waters of Malta.
11. (1) Only ships certified in compliance with both existing
regulations in Malta and IMO Conventions, to which Malta has
acceded, can enter the waters of Malta.
(2) A ship shall not enter a port unless it conforms with the
following conditions:
( a ) a ship carrying a full cargo of dangerous cargoes in
containers shall conform with the regulations laid
down for tankers;
( b ) a ship carrying a part cargo of dangerous packaged
cargoes shall comply with all the requirements laid
down in the IMO IMDG Code and other Relevant
Instruments;
( c ) depending on the types and quantities of cargoes
carried, this may include such ships as described in
paragraph ( b ), having adequate eductors and
ventilation systems to ensure the efficient dispersion
of vapours which may accumulate anywhere within
any compartments and also special pumps fitted in a
well ventilated space to ensure the expulsion of any
leaking dangerous cargo to dedicated, certified holding
tank or tanks.
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Advance notice of 
arrival and ship’s 
status.
12. (1) The Master, owner or agent of any ship proposing to
enter the internal or territorial waters of Malta shall, not less than
seventy-two hours prior to arrival in territorial waters, give notice
by telex, facsimile or in writing to the Director in the form
specified in Schedule A:
Provided that -
( a ) if subsequent events will cause the stated arrival time
to change by two or more hours, the Master, owner or
agent shall, immediately such change is determined,
inform the Director by the means prescribed in
subregulation (1), or by any other effective means of
communication;
( b ) when in the opinion of the Director the arrival notice
cannot be furnished in the required time, he may allow
such notice to be given as early as possible - but in any
case not less than twenty-four hours prior arrival in
territorial waters;
( c ) the Master, owner or agent of any ship which is within
the territorial waters shall immediately notify the
Director of any change which occurs in the
information notifiable under this regulation.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding seventy-five
liri for each offence.
Tankers arrival 
Notice 
confirmation.
13. (1) On arrival in port, the Master of a tanker shall provide
the clearing inwards officer with a completed Notice as specified in
Schedule A, confirming in writing the continued validity of the
advance information given under regulation 12 and any other
information required by the Director.
(2) Any Master who makes, whether knowingly or recklessly,
any statement which is false in any material particular in any
return, claim, or other document, which is requested or authorised
to be made by subregulation (1) in particular in respect to
dangerous substances, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding three thousand
liri for each such false declaration.
Ships carrying 
dangerous 
packaged cargoes, 
status confirmation 
and certificate of 
compliance.
14. (1) On arrival in port, the Master of a ship carrying
dangerous packaged cargoes must, in addition to the confirmation
of advance information required in regulation 13, provide the
inwards clearing officer with full details of the manner in which the
cargoes are stowed, a copy of the dedicated dangerous cargo
manifest and any other information required by the Director.
(2) Any Master who makes, whether knowingly or recklessly,
any statement which is false in any material particular in any
return, claim, or other document, which is requested or authorised
to be made by subregulation (1) in particular in respect to
dangerous substances, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding three thousand
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
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liri for each such false declaration.
(3) Such a ship shall not conduct any cargo handling operations
unless the Master provides the inward clearing officer with the
original certificate(s) from the loading port(s), certifying that the
packaging and stowage of the dangerous packaged cargoes are in
conformity with the IMDG Code or failing such, in accordance
with the rules of the loading port(s).
Notice of intention 
for cargo 
operations.
15. Before any dangerous cargoes may be permitted to be
handled, the owner must give due notice to the Director, of the
place and time of such intended cargo handling operations.
Restrictions on 
handling of 
dangerous 
packaged cargoes.
16. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of any other
regulation contained herein, unless expressly authorised by the
Director in writing, dangerous packaged cargoes shall not be
loaded, discharged, handled or transferred on board any ship in
Grand Harbour or Marsamxett Harbour from sunset to sunrise, nor
shall any lighters be allowed to remain or come alongside such a
ship during that time.
(2) No lighters shall be allowed alongside, or labour gangs on
board a ship carrying dangerous packaged cargoes, until cargo
handling is about to begin.
(3) Unless expressly authorised by the Director in writing,
ship’s compartments containing any such dangerous packaged
cargoes must remain closed and secured from sunset to sunrise and
also during any other period when cargo operations are not being
conducted in such compartments.
(4) All handling, procedures and operations carried out on
dangerous packaged cargoes shall be in strict accordance with the
requirements of the Relevant Instruments (the IMDG Code in
particular) and such requirements and precautions must be properly
supervised on board and on shore throughout every operation, as
described in these regulations.
(5) During the time that dangerous packaged cargoes are
handled, no other goods shall be worked in the same compartment
or in such a way as to pass over or through the dangerous packaged
cargoes working area, or to interfere with the handling of the
dangerous packaged cargoes in any manner whatsoever.
(6) A part cargo of dangerous packaged substances must be
stowed in such a way as to ensure that all such goods may be
discharged first, immediately cargo work commences after the
ship’s arrival in port.
(7) Without prejudice to any other prevailing Act or
regulations, unless otherwise expressly authorised in writing by the
Director, dangerous packaged cargoes on board a ship being carried
in transit for discharge in any subsequent foreign port, shall be
stowed in compartments or areas which do not contain goods for
discharge in Malta and which are properly and effectively vapour
and liquid egress segregated from every other working
compartment and area to be used in Malta.
(8) Unless otherwise expressly authorised in writing by the
14 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Director, such compartments containing dangerous packaged
cargoes in transit, shall remain closed and secured throughout the
whole of the ship's stay in the waters of Malta.
(9) No person may accept for loading or discharging any
container containing dangerous cargoes which is leaking or
materially damaged.
(10) If any such damaged container is found, the Director shall
be informed by the entity responsible for the container at that time
and such container shall be immediately isolated from any other
dangerous goods in the vicinity and removed to a distance of at
least fifty metres from any open cargo compartment or any other
area on board or ashore where hazards relevant to the nature of the
contents of the damaged container may exist.
(11) The damaged container shall then, with all prudent haste
and in conformance with the safety and pollution prevention
requirements of the Relevant Instruments, be temporarily removed
to a safe area within the port, as may be determined by the Director
from time to time.
(12) Thereafter the owner of any damaged container must make
immediate arrangements at his own risk and expense to have it
removed from the port area to a safe place outside the ports or
territorial waters of Malta. Such removal procedures and operations
shall be conducted within such time and during such periods as may
be specified by the Director, and in a timely, safe and prudent
manner in accordance with the requirements of the Relevant
Instruments and any other provisions contained in any Act or
regulations of Malta. The Director further retains the right to cause
such container to be removed at any other time or by any other
means deemed fit, such removal being always at the risk and
expense of the owner.
(13) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions relating
to the time period and methods by which damaged goods must be
removed from the port area, contained in subregulation (12), shall
be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one thousand liri for each failure to comply
with such requirement.
(14) Barges and lighters used for the carriage of substances shall
comply with the following requirements:
( a ) they shall be made of steel and their construction shall
be in accordance with all the requirements of both the
Relevant Instruments and these regulations;
( b ) all their safety, fire and pollution prevention
equipment, procedures and operations, shall be in
compliance with and conducted in strict accordance
with the requirements of the Relevant Instruments, in
particular the IMDG Code;
( c ) they shall be suitably rendered to ensure that no risk of
spark generation exists when going alongside or
leaving a ship, jetty or berth;
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 15
( d ) at all times when they are carrying substances, or are
alongside a ship having substances on board, they shall
rig the emergency towing wire as specified in
regulation 24(1)( m );
( e ) when carrying substances, two or more barges or
lighters shall not be towed abreast;
( f ) whenever volatile or explosive substances are being
loaded from or into barges or lighters alongside a ship,
the moorings shall be secured on board the ship or
lighter, such that they may be easily and safely slipped
in an emergency;
( g ) unless it is secured for towing, a barge or lighter on
fire should not be let entirely adrift without express
instructions from the Director.
(15) No person shall discharge or deposit any dangerous
packaged cargoes within any port area until the transport or
carriage by which it is to be removed is at that place in readiness to
receive it and all dangerous packaged cargoes landed or deposited
shall forthwith be removed from the quay to the ship or from the
quay to the duly appointed place of storage, as the case may be.
(16) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (15) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand
liri for each offence.
(17) Any person who fails to comply with all the other
provisions of this regulation, other than subregulations (12) and
(15), shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand liri for each offence.
Directors berthing 
prerogative for 
ships carrying 
substances in bulk
17. (1) Subject to the provisions of these regulations, ships
carrying substances shall be moored, berthed or anchored in such
particular places within the ports and territorial waters of Malta, as
the Director may from time to time direct and shall not, without the
written permission of the Director, be moved therefrom except for
the purpose of directly leaving a port or for proceeding directly to a
tank-cleaning berth recognised by the Director.
(2) At the discretion of the Director, subject to the properties of
the substances, ships having on board dangerous packaged cargoes
in containers not exceeding 500 litres each in capacity and in total
quantities not exceeding:
( a ) 3000 litres of volatile dangerous cargoes;
( b ) 6000 litres of non-volatile dangerous cargoes;
( c ) 4500 litres in the aggregate of volatile and non-volatile
dangerous cargoes
shall not be deemed to be ships subject to the berthing restrictions
specified in subregulation (1) by reason of the carriage of such
dangerous cargoes, providing that such dangerous cargoes be in
containers stored on deck or in a compartment kept closed
throughout the whole of the ship’s stay in the waters of Malta.
16 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Restricted access 
for ships carrying 
dangerous cargoes.
18. (1) No tanker shall enter Grand Harbour or Marsamxett
Harbour, except as expressly provided in the case of Grand
Harbour under regulations 22, 25, 26, 27, 30 and 91.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Pilotage. 19. The Master of any ship arriving in territorial waters
carrying dangerous substances in bulk or packages, must employ a
pilot for the purposes of entering, leaving or moving within a port
and must inform the pilot on boarding of the nature of the cargo.
Signals. 20. (1) Before entering and throughout such ship’s stay in port
or harbour, the ship shall by day fly the International Code flag "B"
and by night, in addition to any navigation lights which may be
required by any other regulations, exhibit where it can best be seen,
but in any case not less than 7 metres above the deck, a red light
visible all round the horizon for a distance of at least two miles.
(2) In the case of a ship constrained by construction or size,
which cannot normally comply with the provisions of subregulation
(1), the Master may in lieu of such signals display by day in a
conspicuous position above the deck, a red flag of metal not less
than 0.5 metre square and by night an all round red light.
Penalties. 21. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
regulations 19 and 20 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred
liri for each offence.
Departure of ships. 22. (1) Every ship shall, on completion of cargo operations,
proceed out of ports and territorial waters without delay, except
that a tanker may, with the express written permission of and under
such conditions as the Director may permit, proceed directly and
with all cargo tanks securely closed to a tank-cleaning berth for the
purpose of tank cleaning and/or gas freeing.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with any directive given by
the Director in exercise of his powers according to the provisions
of subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five thousand
liri for each offence, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a
further fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred liri for every day
during which the offence continues.
Prohibited entry or 
stay.
23. Notwithstanding the provisions of these regulations, the
Director may prohibit the entry into internal or territorial waters of
Malta of a ship to which these regulations are applicable, or may at
any time require such a ship to leave such waters.
General 
operational 
requirements.
24. (1) Without prejudice to any other provision contained in
these regulations, throughout the stay in the ports and internal or
territorial waters of Malta, the Master of a ship, bunker barge or
owner of a road tanker (where applicable) shall ensure compliance
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 17
with the following general requirements contained in this
regulation:
( a ) a ship or bunker barge shall at all times lie afloat,
except in the case of a tanker which is certified inert in
drydock, as described in regulations 27 and 28;
( b ) no ship to which these regulations apply and which is
not a certified inerted tanker in a repair yard shall,
except for the purposes of transhipment, lie within
thirty metres of any other ship without the express
written permission of the Director;
( c ) a ship shall at all times be safely moored with good,
sound, fibre or wire ropes, such that excessive
movement at, or breaking adrift from, the berth, jetty
or moorings is avoided and the following requirements
must be observed:
(i) all moorings should preferably be of the same
materials and construction, except that moorings
composed entirely of high elasticity ropes are
not permitted;
(ii) within a given mooring pattern, ropes of
different elasticity may never be used together in
the same direction;
(iii) all wire ropes shall be provided with fibre tails
at least 25% stronger than the wires to which
they are attached and be of a length which does
not exceed one third of the distance between the
ship’s side chock and the berth, jetty, or buoy
mooring point;
(iv) self tensioning winches fitted with automatic
rendering and hauling shall not be used in the
automatic mode whilst the ship is moored;
(v) all the features, maintenance procedures and
recommendations of the manufacturer
concerning the brake holding power of
self-stowing mooring winches must be fully
understood and observed by all concerned crew
members;
(vi) throughout the stay in Maltese ports, the
integrity and effectiveness of all moorings,
mooring systems and related equipment, must be
continually monitored and effectively
maintained;
( d ) except when proceeding directly to a repair facility on
arrival in territorial waters, all overboard and sea
valves connected to cargo, slops, sludge or pump-room
compartments shall be fully closed and positively
sealed, such that they cannot be inadvertently opened
and:
(i) all pumproom bilges and wells must be in a
clean, dry condition and so maintained;
(ii) in the case of ships in repair facilities, every
18 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
such ship shall depart such facilities with all
bilges and wells clean and dry;
( e ) all external openings in a ship’s superstructures,
situated on, leading directly to, or overlooking any
potential dangerous area on board or potential
hazardous zone on shore, with the exception of the
pump room, must remain closed throughout all
operations related to:
(i) the handling of dangerous cargoes;
(ii) the loading of dangerous cargoes into non gas-
free tanks;
(iii) the ballasting of non gas-free tanks;
(iv) ballasting into tanks which have contained
dangerous cargoes;
(v) tank cleaning or crude oil washing;
(vi) tank venting or purging;
(vii) gas freeing;
( f ) all ventilation or air-conditioning intakes to such
places as detailed in paragraph ( e ) must be closed,
unless they can be so adjusted as to prevent the entry
of dangerous cargo vapours into such spaces;
( g ) when atmospheric conditions are such that there is
little air movement and heavy concentrations of
dangerous vapour may persist on deck, or the
prevailing wind is likely to create eddies on the lee
side of a ship’s superstructures which may carry heavy
local concentrations of such vented vapour towards the
superstructures, the precautions laid down in
paragraphs ( e ) and ( f ) may have to be extended, or
such operations suspended whilst such conditions
persist;
( h ) the Master shall ensure that all supplies of absorbent
materials, except those approved by the Relevant
Instruments for the removal of small spills, are stowed
in places effectively segregated from any areas where
dangerous cargoes may be present and no absorbent
materials are allowed to be discarded in any such
areas;
( i ) throughout a tanker’s stay at any terminal or marine
facility’s moorings, jetty or berth, fire hoses shall be
connected to the tanker's fire main (one forward and
one aft of the cargo manifold) except when undergoing
repairs at a repair yard, and:
(i) when monitors are provided they shall be aimed
at the manifold and ready for immediate use;
(ii) whilst cargo or ballast operations are being
undertaken, if practicable, a pump should
maintain pressure on the tanker's fire main, but
if this is not possible the fire pump should be in
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 19
a stand-by condition ready for immediate use;
(iii) throughout a tanker’s stay at any marine
terminal/facility moorings, jetty or berth, both
the tanker’s and the shore international ship/
shore fire connection shall be conspicuously
marked and in immediate readiness for the
transfer of water for fire fighting;
(iv) all necessary fire-fighting equipment, including
portable fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus,
etc. shall be maintained readily available,
especially in the vicinity of cargo manifolds;
( j ) whether inerted or not, when an electrical storm is
anticipated in the vicinity of a ship, or a marine
terminal/facility at which a ship is conducting
operations as detailed in paragraph ( e ), all such
operations must be stopped. All tank openings and
vent-line valves, including the bypass valve, if fitted,
on the tank ventilating system must be closed and the
cargo and/or crude oil washing systems secured;
( k ) no naked lights are permitted on board a ship or within
any area, as specified in regulation 34, which is not at
that time a designated safe area or certified by a
competent person as safe for such purposes. The
Master of the ship shall also ensure that these
requirements are brought to the attention of all persons
employed on any ship, tug, lighter or bunker barge
allowed alongside and shall not permit any craft which
does not comply with these requirements to approach
or remain within such an area;
( l ) no repair work of any kind shall be permitted on board
a ship prior the issuing by a competent person of the
relevant permit(s) ("Hot work/Cold work/Electrical
Isolation/Entry", etc.);
( m ) throughout a ship’s stay at any mooring, jetty or berth,
emergency towing wires ('fire wires') of adequate
strength and condition shall be made fast fore and aft
(at a jetty or berth, on the off-shore side of the tanker)
and their eyes run out and maintained at, or about, the
waterline; sufficient slack to enable effective
towing-off in an emergency should be retained
between the tanker’s bollard and chock and such slack
prevented from running out by a rope yarn or other
easily broken means;
( n ) except when undergoing repair at a repair yard,
throughout a tanker’s stay at any terminal or marine
facility’s moorings, jetty or berth, its main engines,
steering gear and any other equipment essential for
manoeuvring shall be maintained in a condition that
will enable it to move away from such places at thirty
minutes notice;
( o ) should such a ship for any reason be unable to comply
with the requirements of paragraph ( n ), the Master
20 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
must immediately inform the Director who may
thereupon instruct the Master to engage a tug or tugs to
be on stand-by throughout the whole of the period
during which the ship is unable to so comply. Such
tug(s) shall always be engaged at the risk and expense
of the ship;
( p ) should the Director consider that inclement weather or
other conditions may adversely affect the moorings of
a ship, he may instruct its Master to engage recognised
tug(s) to stand-by or assist the ship throughout the
period that he deems such conditions to persist. Such
tug(s) shall always be engaged at the risk and expense
of the ship;
( q ) except as the Director may expressly authorise in
writing and under specified controlled conditions, no
person may enter any cargo compartment or void
space, or any other enclosed space on board any ship
which may contain dangerous cargo gases or vapours
and which has not been issued with an "Entry Permit"
by a competent person;
( r ) the minimum acceptable general atmospheric
requirements for the issuance of an "Entry Permit" are:
(i) the concentrations of any toxic gases which may
be likely to be extant in the compartment shall,
throughout the compartment, be below the TLV
of such gases;
(ii) a steady oxygen level of 21% by volume shall be
accomplished and maintained throughout the
compartment;
(iii) throughout the compartment, the concentration
of any flammable gases likely to be present shall
not exceed 1% of the LFL of such gases;
(iv) throughout the whole time that entry is permitted
into the compartment, the atmospheric
conditions detailed in subparagraphs (i) to (iii),
shall be continuously monitored at all levels
within the compartment and be so maintained by
the provision of continuous and effective forced
ventilation:
Provided that this permit shall be valid and
remain so only when all the other conjoined
safety resources and procedures required by the
Relevant Instruments are complied with;
( s ) the Master of any ship engaged in the carriage of
dangerous cargoes, or which is not certified
completely gas free, shall not permit on board any
unauthorised person, or any authorised person
(whether ship’s crew or not) who is deemed to be
temporarily impaired in his judgement by reason of
intoxication, unless special and effective preparations
for their reception has been made;
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 21
( t ) except as permitted in writing by the Director, under
the proviso that no sources of ignition, including other
ships, are within the dangerous area of such ships or
hazardous zones ashore, throughout any period when
the operations detailed in paragraph ( e ) are being
conducted, no other loading or discharging operations
to or from the ship (such as the taking or landing of
stores, spare parts, equipment or bunkers) is permitted;
( u ) until such time as operations detailed in paragraph ( e )
have been completed and until such time as a gas free
and/or inert certificate for the ship is provided to the
Director, all such and every other ship operation shall
at all times be under the control of a duly qualified
responsible officer, designated by the Master;
( v ) during operations specified in paragraph ( u ), a
responsible shore representative shall be readily
available to carry out and give effect to the provisions
of that paragraph;
(w) in respect of access to the ship, throughout any period
when the operations detailed in paragraph ( e ) are being
conducted, the following requirements must be
complied with:
(i) there shall be only one means of access to the
ship;
(ii) such access shall be continuously manned by a
crew member having close and effective means
of communication with the responsible officer in
charge of such operations;
(iii) such access shall be located as close to the ship's
accommodation and as far away from the ship
and shore manifolds as possible;
(iv) gangways and other means of access shall be
provided with an effective safety net, properly
rigged and have a lifebuoy with lifeline readily
available. During the hours of darkness, such
means of access shall be effectively illuminated
by intrinsically safe means;
( x ) throughout the time a ship is at a marine terminal/
facility, the radio transmitting aerials shall be
effectively earthed and the following requirements
observed:
(i) radio, satellite communications, radar and any
other equipment which when operated may emit
potentially hazardous levels of radiated energy
externally from the ship, or involves the running
of non intrinsically safe electrical equipment,
shall not be used;
(ii) without prejudice to the preceding provision,
correctly installed fixed-installation VHF and/or
UHF communications equipment may be used,
provided that the power output is not in excess
22 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
of one watt;
(iii) no repairs involving the activating of any such
equipment are permitted without full prior
consultation between the Master and the
responsible terminal/facility representative and
may require the issuing of a work permit.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with any directive given by
the Director in exercise of his powers according to the provisions
of subregulation (1), shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five thousand
liri for each offence, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a
further fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred liri for every day
during which the offence continues.
Restrictions on 
movements of a 
tanker which is not 
certified gas free 
and/or inert.
Amended by:
L.N. 152 of 1997.
25. (1) A tanker which is empty of all cargo except slops and/
or residues may enter the Grand Harbour for the sole purpose of
proceeding directly and with all tanks securely closed, to a tank
cleaning berth, providing that these operations are carried out in
strict accordance with the requirements of the Relevant Instruments
and that no other tanker, except as provided in regulation 27, is
within the Grand Harbour at the time of transit.
(2) A gas tanker with all its tanks not gas-free or inerted, upon
being certified by the competent person as being in a vapour
saturated condition with free oxygen content nearly zero and such
tanks securely sealed, may enter the Grand Harbour for the purpose
of proceeding directly to a repair or tank cleaning facility:
Provided that no other vessel shall be allowed to manoeuvre
within harbour until such tanker has entered the repair or tank
cleaning facility.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) and subregulation (2) shall be guilty of an offence
and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
three thousand liri for each offence.
Restrictions on 
movements of a 
tanker which is 
certified partly gas 
free and/or inert.
26. A tanker which has carried dangerous cargoes and which
has had all necessary tanks certified gas-free or inert may, with the
express written permission of the Director, enter Grand Harbour for
the purpose of proceeding to a repair facility for the conducting of
controlled operations, provided that any un-inerted slop tanks still
containing slops shall be adequately vented and all vent lines
positively and effectively vapour-isolated from every other
compartment in the tanker and all other requirements of regulations
27, 28 and 29 of these regulations are complied with.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 23
Conditions of entry 
to Grand Harbour 
for a tanker 
certified fully 
gas-free and/or 
inert.
27. A tanker which is certified fully inert or gas free, or with
some compartments certified gas free and the remainder inert, may
enter Grand Harbour for the purposes of proceeding to a repair
facility, provided that the following additional safety checks have
also been conducted by a competent person:
( a ) the gas-tightness of the inert gas distribution system
and cargo tanks is confirmed, and that, attested to by
the Master’s written declaration, all tanks have been in
a continuously inert condition for at least four hours
prior inspection and will so remain throughout a
tanker’s stay in Grand Harbour. In exceptional cases
the Director may approve lesser periods of prior
inertion, under the requirement that the competent
person undertakes immediate and frequent monitoring
of such a ship's subsequent I.G. status and record full
details of such monitoring, which shall be provided to
the Director as required;
( b ) the gas-tight seals of all cargo compartment openings
are effective and tight;
( c ) all inert gas system Pressure/Vacuum Breakers or
other approved devices and Pressure/Vacuum valves
appear to be regularly maintained and that for those
which are liquid-filled, the correct fluid and level has
been used and is maintained;
( d ) the water level in the deck water seal is satisfactory;
( e ) both the inert gas pressure indicators and the fixed and
portable oxygen analysers are of an approved type and
have been properly calibrated.
Conditions of stay 
in Grand Harbour 
for a tanker 
certified gas-free 
and/or inert and 
checklists.
28. (1) Throughout a tanker’s stay in a repair facility, the
following procedures shall be ensured by a competent person:
( a ) on arrival at such facility the relevant checklists as
specified in Schedule B shall be completed;
( b ) before commencing repair work and not less than once
every twenty-four hours thereafter - but in any case
immediately after the tank pressure system has been
topped up with inert gas - a competent person
accompanied by a responsible ship’s officer shall,
together, check that the oxygen level at several
different levels well within every inerted compartment
has not risen above a maximum of 8% by volume, that
the pressure is maintained at a minimum of 100mm on
the water gauge and that the water level in the deck
water seal remains satisfactory;
( c ) that the gas-tight seals of all cargo compartment
openings remain effective and tight;
( d ) throughout the tanker’s stay in Grand Harbour, no
inerted space may be opened to atmosphere except for
the briefest period needed to accomplish oxygen
testing, ullaging or sampling;
( e ) the repair facilities shall provide whenever necessary,
24 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
a continuous supply of water to the deck water seal
and inert gas of a suitable quality from a shore inert
gas generator. In any case, prior to commencement of
any repair, connection must be made between the
facility’s inert gas generator and the tanker's inert gas
delivery main;
( f ) all connections, cables and procedures used to provide
an additional electricity supply to a ship from shore,
shall be in strict conformance with all the requirements
of the Relevant Instruments, including approved
means being provided at any terminal board in the ship
to which a shore electricity supply is connected, so as
to prevent the shore supply from being connected to
the switchboard whilst it remains connected to the
ship’s generators;
( g ) work permits in respect of hot work, cold work,
electrical work and entry permits should not generally
have a validity period in excess of twelve hours. In the
event that the complexity of the required work
necessitates the issuance of more than one permit, care
shall be taken to ensure that the issuance of a permit
for subsequent work does not negate the safety
conditions of any earlier permits;
( h ) in the event that for any reason whatsoever, the
conditions described in paragraphs ( b ) to ( f ) cannot be
maintained, the Director must be immediately
informed by the person in charge of the operation and
all work on the tanker must cease until such time as
these prescribed conditions are properly restored. The
Director may order that the tanker must leave Grand
Harbour forthwith.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with any directive given by
the Director in the exercise of his powers according to the
provisions of subregulation (1), shall be guilty of an offence and
shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five
thousand liri for each offence, and in the case of a continuing
offence, to a further fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred liri for
every day during which the offence continues.
Constraints on 
work which may 
be conducted on a 
tanker in the inert 
condition.
29. (1) Only cold work may be undertaken on a tanker whose
tanks are certified in the inert condition, except that hot work may
be carried out when, in each instance the specific permitted has
been so authorised by, and carried out wholly under the overall
supervision of a competent person and at such a safe distance from
any dangerous area on board or hazardous zone on shore, as is
specified during any specific period by such competent person.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with any directive given by
the Director in exercise of his powers according to the provisions
of subregulation (1), shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five thousand
liri for each offence, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a
further fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred liri for every day
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 25
during which the offence continues.
Crude oil washing 
and tank cleaning 
operations.
30. (1) A tanker may enter Grand Harbour carrying no more
than 20,000 tonnes of volatile dangerous cargoes, provided that:
( a ) it proceeds directly to the tank cleaning berth;
( b ) in case of crude oil washing, the inert conditions
specified in regulations 27 and 28 are strictly complied
with throughout the tanker’s stay in Grand Harbour.
(2) All crude oil washing and tank cleaning operations shall be
carried out in strict compliance with the requirements of the
Relevant Instruments.
(3) On arrival at the tank cleaning berth, the relevant checklists
as specified in Schedule B, must be completed jointly with the tank
cleaning installation operator.
Conditions under 
which crude oil 
washing cease.
31. If at any time during crude oil washing operations, the inert
conditions specified in regulation 27 and regulation 28( b ) to ( e )
cannot be maintained, the Director shall be immediately informed
by the person in charge of the operation and crude oil washing must
cease until these prescribed conditions are properly restored. The
Director may order the tanker to leave Grand Harbour forthwith.
Restrictions on 
transiting Grand 
Harbour.
32. Subject to the provisions of regulations 25 and 26, a tanker
having carried dangerous cargoes, but on which the appropriate
tanks are not certified gas-free and/or inert, may enter or leave
Grand Harbour at any time, provided that if such movement is
between sunset and sunrise, no other ship movement shall be
permitted at that time.
Substance and 
ballast handling 
operations and 
checklists.
33. (1) No ship may discharge or transfer any substances
which cannot be handled, stored or disposed of to the requirements
of the Relevant Instruments, without the written permission of the
Director and under such conditions and requirements as he shall
deem appropriate.
(2) Without prejudice to any other provisions contained within
these regulations, all preparations for, and actual cargo handling
and/or ballasting operations, procedures and practices undertaken
on dangerous cargoes within the waters of Malta, shall be
continuously and consistently undertaken in strict compliance and
in accordance with all the requirements of the Relevant
Instruments, with special attention to those contained in the
ISGOTT and relevant OCIMF guides.
(3) If at any time during the conduct of such operations, any of
the requirements of subregulation (2) cannot be maintained, then
cargo handling and ballasting operations shall immediately cease
and both ship and shore cargo handling and ballast systems shall be
secured and the Director informed.
(4) No cargo handling and/or ballast operations shall
recommence until such time as these prescribed conditions are
properly and fully restored. At any time the Director may order the
tanker to leave the waters of Malta.
26 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
(5) Prior commencement of every cargo handling operation
(and also prior to commencing the separate phases integrated
within each operation) the relevant checklists and declarations, as
specified in Schedule B, shall be completed as appropriate for the
operation being undertaken.
(6) Neither the joint checklists or declarations shall be signed,
nor operations commence, until mutual assurance is achieved on
the relevant sections. Certain items on the checklists will require
several checks or continuous supervision throughout cargo
handling and ballast operations.
(7) In respect of agreed pre-planned procedures for cargo,
bunker and ballast handling, if it is found that subsequent events
may affect any such operation and will require changes to the
agreed procedures, such changes shall be discussed between both
parties and agreed upon prior to any changes being effected.
(8) If substantial changes occur, these shall, in sufficient time,
be laid down in writing before any change in the procedures takes
place and in any case within the working period of those
supervisors aboard and ashore, in whose working period the
agreement on changes was reached.
(9) When considering the possibility of handling a number of
dangerous cargoes concurrently, the properties of the cargoes
handled, the equipment of both ship and shore installations, the
ability of the tanker’s crew and shore personnel to safely execute
and sufficiently control the necessary operations, shall be taken
into account.
(10) No tanker may undertake cargo handling operations on
dangerous cargoes in the Grand Harbour or in Marsamxett Harbour,
except on ballast water or slops for landing at a tank-cleaning
berth, or crude oil washing carried out in accordance with the
requirements specified in regulation 30.
(11) No tanker may undertake cargo handling operations on
dangerous cargoes at any berth, jetty or mooring other than at such
place as the Director may instruct from time to time.
(12) No transfer of any substances is permitted into containers
on board a tanker or on lighters in any port. The Director may
however authorise such operations in any port, other than Grand
Harbour, under such conditions and requirements as he may deem
appropriate.
(13) Between sunset and sunrise, a tanker may rig or disconnect
cargo hoses and/or undertake cargo handling operations on
dangerous cargoes:
Provided that adequate approved intrinsically safe fixed
installation illumination, which complies with all the requirements
of the Relevant Instruments, is provided on board the ship and
similarly provided on shore to illuminate the ship and its access
when alongside a berth.
(14) Whenever a tanker’s construction allows, "closed loading"
procedures should be adopted.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 27
(15) All cargo tank lids, sighting, sampling and ullaging ports
shall be closed and secured prior to commencement of cargo
handling on any volatile dangerous cargo, or a non-volatile
dangerous cargo into non gas free tanks, or ballasting into tanks
having contained a volatile dangerous cargo except in the case of
gas freeing and/or purging.
(16) Before handling any volatile dangerous cargo, or loading a
non-volatile dangerous cargo into non-gas-free tanks, or ballasting
into tanks having contained a volatile dangerous cargo, or venting/
purging of tanks having contained such volatile dangerous cargoes,
the tanker’s tank venting system shall be set for the operation
concerned.
(17) When cargo handling or ballasting operations have
commenced, such operations shall proceed with due diligence and
if they are discontinued, the cargo system and tanks on the tanker
shall be secured and closed.
(18) During the operations described in subregulation (16),
ullage, sighting and sampling ports shall only be opened for the
shortest possible time required to fulfil their functions and all such
openings must be protected by gauze screens which are in a good
and clean condition, or by other approved means.
(19) During loading or ballasting operations, the pressure/
vacuum relief valves must be either opened or by-passed and high
velocity valves shall be set in the operational position.
(20) During any cargo handling operations, no repair work to the
cargo handling system is permitted either aboard a tanker or on
shore. If such repairs are necessary, all operations shall cease, the
cargo system shall be secured, ship/shore hoses shall be
disconnected and the appropriate permits shall be obtained from a
competent person before such authorised repairs may commence.
(21) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulations (1) to (20) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Danger area.
written authorisation by the Director and under such conditions as
he may deem fit, any area contained within an envelope enclosing a
distance of thirty metres from any part of a ship engaged in the
operations specified in regulation 33(16), shall be regarded as a
danger area.
Cargo and bunker 
transfer equipment 
suitability and 
operational 
requirements.
35. (1) All hoses and other appliances used for the handling of
dangerous cargoes shall conform with the requirements of the
Relevant Instruments for the usage to which they are being put.
(2) Before and during any operation, hose strings shall be
subjected to a close visual inspection for the purpose of
determining any possible visible defects in their bore or outer
covers, such as evidence of leakage, blistering, abrasion or
flattening.
(3) Hoses and other cargo transfer appliances shall have their
28 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
maximum permissible pressure rating and date of last pressure test
clearly and indelibly indicated on them by a testing facility
recognised by the Director. Tests shall be done according to their
manufacturer’s specifications at intervals which are in accordance
with their manufacturer’s recommendations, but in any case not
exceeding one year.
(4) Hoses shall be protected from any chafing or rubbing and
steel wires for lifting shall not be permitted to have direct contact
with a hose.
(5) All connections, both between sections of hoses and from
hoses to manifolds, shall be properly and fully accomplished and
excessive weight must not be allowed on the tanker’s manifold.
(6) During cargo handling operations, the hose strings shall be
adjusted to avoid undue strain on the hoses or the manifold
connections and to ensure that the radius of curvature of the hose
remains within the manufacturer’s recommended limits.
(7) When cargo hard arms with approved mechanical couplers
are being used, the tanker's manifold flange face shall be smooth
and free of rust, to ensure a tight seal.
(8) All cargo hose strings and hard arms used shall be fitted
with an insulating flange or a single length of non-conducting hose,
to ensure electrical discontinuity between the tanker and shore
during connection and disconnection.
(9) Throughout cargo operations adequate supervision shall be
maintained in the vicinity of flexible hoses/hard arms, both aboard
tanker and ashore, to ensure that in the event of accident, cargo
transfer can be stopped without delay.
Unused cargo 
pipelines/systems.
36. All tanker cargo and bunker pipelines not in use shall be
securely and fully blanked at the manifold. Stern cargo pipelines
not in use shall be isolated from a tanker’s main pipeline system,
forward of the aft accommodation, by blanking or the removal of a
spool piece.
Scupper plugs. 37. Prior to commencing and throughout the whole period when
any cargo or bunkering operations are being undertaken, all
scuppers and openings in the ship’s decks, hull or superstructure,
which could permit egress of substances into the sea in the event of
an incident, shall be properly and effectively closed.
Drip pans and 
absorbent material.
38. Throughout all cargo and bunkering operations drip pans
shall be used and maintained effective, unless means for permanent
retention of slight leakage at the ship/shore connection is provided.
Adequate supplies of approved intrinsically safe absorbent material
shall be kept readily available for immediate use in the event of a
minor leakage. After usage, the contaminated materials shall be
immediately removed to a safe area.
Cleaning of tanks. 39. After cargo operations are completed, no ship’s cargo or
bunker tanks may be opened nor cleaned whilst the ship is in
internal or territorial waters, except at such places and under such
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 29
conditions as the Director may authorise.
Prohibition on 
naked lights.
40. No naked lights of any description shall be allowed on
board any vessel being used within the ports for the carriage of
dangerous cargoes in bulk or in packaged form, except that
smoking may be permitted in places defined as designated safe
areas.
Transportation of 
dangerous cargoes 
between the islands 
of Malta.
41. Nothing in these regulations shall prevent a ship, vessel or
bunker barge from carrying dangerous cargoes between the islands
of Malta, provided that:
( a ) all the precautions and requirements related to the
carriage and handling of such cargo as prescribed in
these regulations and considered applicable by the
Director are complied with;
( b ) in no case shall ships or vessels carry dangerous
cargoes whilst carrying passengers;
( c ) no person shall smoke on board any such ship whilst
volatile dangerous cargoes are being carried, except in
places which the Master has laid down as designated
safe areas for that purpose.
Master’s 
responsibilities for 
safety.
42. Nothing in these regulations shall be taken to relieve the
Master of his responsibilities and liabilities for the safety of the
ship, the crew and any person working aboard the ship, the cargo
carried in the ship and the property and life of others, which may be
endangered by the ship or its cargo.
PART III
Bunker Supply Barges and Bunker Receiving Ships
Bunker barge.
and internal waters or ports of Malta shall only be undertaken by
means of a licensed or authorised bunker barge.
Products that may 
be carried.
44. A bunker barge shall carry only bunkers.
Designated bunker 
supply anchorage 
areas.
45. (1) Outside port areas, bunker supply operations shall only
be conducted in the anchorage areas designated by the Director.
(2) The Master of a bunker barge shall, prior to every proposed
bunker supply operation, inform the Director of the specific
designated bunker anchorage area indicated by him to the receiving
ship for the conduct of that particular operation and shall not
commence any such operation until the Director’s approval for
same has been confirmed.
(3) The bunker barge must be in position off the indicated
bunker anchorage area prior to the arrival of the bunker receiving
ship at that area.
(4) The ultimate responsibility for the choice of any one of
those designated anchorage areas and for safe navigation
throughout any bunkering operation, rests solely with the Master of
the bunker receiving ship.
30 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Delimitation of 
boundaries.
46. The Director may from time to time establish or cancel any
bunker area anchorages, or amend the boundaries of any bunker
area anchorage.
Penalties. 47. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
regulations 43 and 44 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Road tankers 
supplying bunkers 
within port areas.
48. (1) When deemed applicable by the Director, in respect of
matters relating to operational practices such as, timing of
operations, safety, fire, pollution prevention, bunker handling
equipment and hoses, a road tanker supplying bunkers to a ship or
vessel shall, whilst within any port area, be no less constrained by
the requirements of these regulations than a bunker barge.
(2) Such a road tanker as specified in subregulation (1),
whether sub-contracted or not, shall always be deemed by the
Director to be wholly the servant of the bunker operator and all the
requirements and obligations required of such road tankers under
these regulations, are so made incumbent upon such bunker
operators.
Bunkering on lee 
coast.
49. (1) Every offshore bunkering operation shall be conducted
on the lee coast.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Restriction on 
bunker barges 
anchoring in the 
waters of Malta.
50. At no time shall a bunker barge anchor in the waters of
Malta, without prior authorisation from the Director.
Restrictions on 
operations during 
the hours of 
darkness.
51. (1) A bunker barge shall not go alongside another barge or
ship after sunset, without the express prior authorisation of the
Director.
(2) If any bunkering operation is estimated to be prolonged
after sunset, the Director shall be informed by the Master of the
bunker barge immediately this possibility is perceived and express
prior authorisation shall be sought from the Director to extend
operations after sunset. If this is not obtained, the bunker barge
shall be unmoored from and clear of the receiving ship before
sunset.
Penalties. 52. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
regulations 45, 50 and 51 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
liri for each offence.
Advance notice of 
arrival for bunker 
receiving ships.
53. Every ship requesting entry into a port or territorial waters
of Malta for bunker reception purposes shall provide, within
normal working hours, the advance notice of arrival to the Director
as prescribed in regulation 12.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 31
Bunkering areas 
within ports.
54. Within the ports of Malta, bunkering operations shall only
be carried out in Marsaxlokk, Marsamxett, Grand Harbour and
M [arr, Gozo and only at such ports or any other places as may be
so authorised by the Director from time to time.
General 
requirements.
55. Without prejudice to any other provision contained in these
regulations, the owner and Master of a bunker barge shall ensure
that all ship-to-ship equipment, operations, procedures and
practices are in full compliance with all the requirements laid down
in the Relevant Instruments with especial consideration being given
to the requirements contained in the OCIMF "Ship to Ship Transfer
Guide" and to such provisions as the Director may prescribe from
time to time.
Penalties.
regulations 54 and 55 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Checklists.
fully and properly completed by the Masters of the bunker
receiving ship and the bunker barge prior to the commencement
and also at each integral stage of every bunkering operation. Such
completed checklists shall be presented to the Director during
normal working hours by the Master of the bunker barge on
completion of each bunkering operation.
Readiness to 
unberth.
58. Bunker barges shall be manned, as required by the Director,
on a 24-hour basis and maintained in readiness to leave berth at
short notice.
Mooring.
member may proceed on shore to receive moorings and, in every
instance, personnel shall already be present on shore to handle
moorings.
Bunker receiving 
ship’s scupper 
plugs.
60. The Master of the bunker barge shall be responsible for
determining and ensuring that all the requirements prescribed in
regulation 37 are complied with by the bunker receiving ship.
Penalties.
regulations 57 and 60 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
liri for each offence.
Multi-grade bunker 
supply.
62. Notwithstanding any other requirements contained in these
regulations, simultaneous multi-grade bunker supply, whether by
barge, road tanker, or both shall not be undertaken unless prior
specific written authorisation has been obtained from the Director.
Emergency 
mobilisation.
63. Throughout a bunker supply operation, both the bunker
barge and the receiving ship shall fully comply with the
requirements contained in regulation 24(1)( n ) and ( o ).
32 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Prerequisites for 
owners of bunker 
supply barges.
64. (1) The Authority shall only consider licensing or the
renewal of a licence for a bunker barge to operate within the waters
of Malta, after the following requirements have been fully
complied with:
( a ) the owner of such barge shall inform the Director in
writing that insurance cover in respect of third party
damage, marine environment pollution damage and
clearance of pollution liabilities, for an amount
acceptable by the Authority, has been obtained from
an insurer recognised by the Authority;
( b ) the owner shall provide the Director with a copy of
such insurance cover, including all the conditions,
exceptions and exclusions imposed thereon;
( c ) if such insurance cover is approved by the Director,
then throughout the duration of its service as a
licensed or authorised bunker barge, such approved
cover must remain whole;
( d ) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph ( c ), the
Director may at any time, require that changes or
supplements be made to such cover and any such
requirements shall be implemented by the owner
without delay;
( e ) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph ( c ), in the
event that any changes to such approved cover are
subsequently proposed by either the insurer and/or the
owner, these proposals shall be fully advised in
writing to the Director for his consideration and any
such proposed changes shall not be effected unless so
authorised in writing by the Director;
( f ) a barge of such dimensions or tonnages as are
specified in the Relevant Instruments, or as may be
determined by the Director from time to time, shall be
in class with a Classification Society recognised by the
Authority, without any recommendations or
exemptions to its Class. Such Class status must ever
remain valid;
( g ) a barge of such dimensions or tonnages as are
specified in the Relevant Instruments, or as may be
determined by the Director from time to time, shall be
in possession of an approved and valid IOPP
certificate issued by a Classification Society
recognised by the Authority. Such IOPP certificate
status must ever remain valid;
( h ) a barge shall comply with such requirements as are
specified in the Relevant Instruments for its
dimensions or tonnages, or as the Director may
determine from time to time;
( i ) the barge owner shall enter into an undertaking with a
specialised organisation, recognised by the Authority,
to provide an effective 'on-call' service for the
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 33
immediate control and removal from both sea and land
of any potential consequences of the most
environmentally hazardous operations that can be
undertaken;
( j ) the barge owner shall provide the Director with full
written details of such organisation, its estimated
lead-time to put the necessary equipment and
personnel on site at any potential pollution incident
and full details of the extent of services, equipment
and expert personnel immediately available to it, as
secured by the owner from that organisation;
( k ) if the Director approves such an organisation, and
extent of services secured, then these must ever remain
valid;
( l ) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph ( k ), the
Director may at any time require that changes be made
to either such secured services or organisation, and
any such required changes shall be implemented
without delay by the bunker barge owner;
( m ) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph ( k ), in the
event that any changes to such secured service or
organisation, are proposed by the owner to the
Director, such proposed changes shall not be effected
unless so authorised by the Director;
( n ) the barge owner shall provide the Director with copies
of the designated Master and crew members
Certificates of Competency, Dangerous Cargo
Endorsements and Records of Sea Service;
( o ) the Director shall prescribe to the barge owner the
minimum requirements for manning levels,
professional Certificates, Dangerous Cargo
Endorsements or relevant tanker experience, required
by the Master and crew. Such requirements must ever
remain valid;
( p ) a bunker barge owner shall not substitute or replace
any Master or crew member or reduce the manning
complement, unless the documents required in
paragraph ( n ) have been provided and approval in
writing has been obtained from the Director.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
subregulation (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
General 
operational 
resources, 
administrative and 
procedural 
requirements.
65. (1) Without prejudice to any other provisions contained in
these regulations, the owner and Master of a bunker barge shall
ensure that all bunker supply operations are undertaken in full
compliance with all the requirements laid down in the Relevant
Instruments, which include:
( a ) during every bunkering operation within any port area,
containment booms of such a size and range as to
34 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
effectively contain any oil spill potential to such an
operation, shall be properly and effectively deployed;
( b ) when such operations are undertaken at an 'open face'
wharf or jetty, additional containment booms of
adequate size and range shall be deployed alongside
such wharf or jetty, by the bunker barge, so as to
effectively prevent any ingress of any potential oil
spill;
( c ) when a bunkering operation is carried out within a
port, adequate "Fence" booms shall be effectively
deployed fore and aft, between the barge and receiving
ship, to contain any possible oil-spill;
( d ) any oil-spill or accidental equipment failure which
may increase the normal pollution hazards of any
operation, shall be immediately reported to the
Director;
( e ) during every bunkering operation, the bunker barge
shall have aboard adequate supplies of approved
absorbent materials and oil dispersants readily and
immediately available; but oil dispersants shall only be
deployed with the permission of the Director, taking
into account the circumstances of each case;
( f ) a motor-propelled boat shall be carried on board the
bunker barge equipped with sufficient supplies of oil
dispersant and efficient means of applying same, for
the purpose of providing effective "first-aid" pollution
control;
( g ) the boat described in paragraph ( f ) shall be capable of
being swiftly and readily launched at any time during
bunkering operations and both the craft, its propulsion
machinery and oil dispersant equipment must be
maintained at the highest levels of preparedness;
( h ) all bunker barge cargo transfer equipment and hoses,
navigational, safety, and pollution prevention/control
equipment, shall always be maintained in good
working order and the Master and crew properly
trained in their effective use and deployment;
( i ) all hoses and other appliances used for bunkering
operations, the operational practices conducted with
them and the certification required for them, shall be
in strict accordance with the requirements of
regulation 35(1) to (6) and (8) and (9);
( j ) at all times during bunker operations within any port,
adequate types and quantities of spill-removal
skimmers approved by the Director, sufficient to
effectively remove any potential bunker
operation-generated spill shall be provided by the
bunker barge owner and properly maintained in
readiness for immediate use as required;
( k ) at all times during bunker operations within any port
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 35
area, temporary portable emergency spill storage tanks
of adequate types and capacities approved by the
Authority, must be provided by the bunker barge
owner and properly maintained in readiness for
immediate use as required;
( l ) all mechanical pollution prevention/control equipment
and operational ancillaries, such as pumps,
compressors, hydraulic power packs and motivating
units must be tested at regular intervals not exceeding
three months;
( m ) effective and planned maintenance schemes, approved
by the Director, must be prepared and properly
implemented by the bunker barge owner to ensure that
all pollution prevention/control equipment is
continuously and effectively maintained in good
working order. Such schemes must include a checklist
aide-memoire for use of all personnel concerned with
the usage and maintenance of such equipment and
systems;
( n ) the planned maintenance schemes, specified in
paragraph ( m ), and both routine and exceptional
maintenance data shall be recorded in detail and kept
readily available for inspection by the Director;
( o ) any pollution prevention/control degradeable media,
referred to in this regulation, shall be regularly
operationally tested at not less than biannual intervals,
to establish their continued effectiveness:
Provided that, five years from the date of
manufacture of such media, testing of representative
samples shall be conducted annually at laboratory
facilities recognised by the Director, for the purpose of
obtaining a certificate that such media continue to be
effective for their intended purpose;
( p ) a bunker barge owner shall ensure that an adequate
number of personnel are fully trained by organisations
recognised by the Authority in the effective handling,
usage and application of all pollution prevention/
control equipment and media, so as to ensure full and
effective pollution prevention/control coverage at all
times during bunker operations;
( q ) a bunker barge owner shall also ensure that such
personnel, referred to in paragraph ( p ), undertake
refresher courses at intervals recommended by such
organisations;
( r ) a bunker barge owner shall prepare effective pollution
prevention/control contingency plans covering the
most environmentally hazardous incidents that can
occur during bunker supply operations to other ships,
or reception of bunker stocks at a bunker terminal;
( s ) plans, referred to in paragraph ( r ), must take into
account both the resources of the bunker barge owner
36 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
and those of the local related emergency services and
their cooperation;
( t ) a bunker barge owner shall conduct, at least
biannually, pollution-response drills, approved by the
Director, utilising his own resources and personnel,
making actual usage of or testing all equipment,
facilities and systems by both designated and alternate
personnel;
( u ) each bunker barge owner shall also participate in all
joint pollution-response manoeuvres which may be
organised by the Director from time to time in
conjunction with other concerned agencies and
services;
( v ) the Director may suspend or refuse renewal of a
bunker barge licence authorisation if any of the
following equipment aboard a bunkering barge are
missing, inoperative, or inadequate, until such time as
such deficiencies are rectified to the satisfaction of the
Director:
(i) Compass;
(ii) Radar;
(iii) Echo Sounder;
(iv) Rudder Angle Indicator;
(v) Daylight Signalling Lamp;
(vi) Barometer;
(vii) Thermometer;
(viii) Inclinometer;
(ix) Binoculars;
(x) all charts available for the waters of Malta;
(xi) at least two properly maintained high or low
pressure fenders adequate for the intended
operations;
(xii) two electrical generators, each of sufficient rated
output to supply all the bunker barge’s
operational requirements, must be in working
order throughout any period when bunkering
operations are being undertaken;
(xiii) any items specified in paragraph ( h ).
(2) Such deployments and provisions as are required under
subregulation (1) shall be recorded in detail for inspection by the
Director.
Other applicable 
requirements.
66. Any Master or owner of a bunker barge when engaged in
bunker supply or loading of bunker stock operations, or lying
within any danger area or hazardous zone, shall comply with all
other applicable requirements of the Relevant Instruments, with
special attention to the following:
( a ) regulation 24(1)( a ), ( d ), ( h ) to ( l ) and ( n ) to ( t );
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 37
( b ) regulation 33(2) to (8) and (20);
( c ) regulation 35(1) to (6), (8) and (9);
( d ) regulations 36, 38 and 40.
Work permits.
bunker barge, which is at that time not engaged in any bunker
operation, unless such work involves "hot work". Prior application
for a "hot work permit", the Director must be informed.
Penalties.
regulations 65 and 66 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand
liri for each offence.
Responsibility and 
liability of the 
Master.
69. Nothing in these regulations shall be taken to relieve the
Master of his responsibility and liability, especially with regards to
the life and property of others, the crew and any other person
aboard, the marine environment, the bunker barge and cargo.
PART IV
Marine Terminals and Facilities
Marine terminal 
and facility data 
provision.
70. Marine terminal/facility operators shall provide to the
Director, from time to time, for exclusive and confidential use, full
details and updated information regarding safety and pollution
prevention/ control, including relevant operational data, equipment
and personnel resources, general and specific procedures, policies
and plans in respect of fire-fighting, emergency and pollution
prevention/control.
Data requirements.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
71. In addition to the safety and pollution prevention/control
data referred to in regulation 70, the following information shall
also be provided to the Director by such operators:
(1) full general details of:
( a ) equipment layout plans dealing with the most safety
and environmentally hazardous operations that are or
shall be undertaken at that marine terminal/facility;
( b ) the routine pollution prevention/control procedures
and equipment both within the terminal/facility and as
required by the terminal/facility operator to be on
board ships or bunker barges utilising his facilities;
( c ) the operations manual;
( d ) the operations checklists;
( e ) all safety and pollution prevention/control training
programmes provided to personnel;
( f ) all prescribed emergency procedures;
(g) ship data records concerning incidents and turnaround
reports;
( h ) routine and exceptional manning schedules;
( i ) plans of the general terminal/facility layouts;
38 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
( j ) the terminal/facility regulations;
( k ) descriptions of known problem areas at the terminal or
facility;
( l ) list of Marine maintenance work orders;
( m ) preventive maintenance and inspection procedures;
( n ) the means and procedures provided by the terminal or
facility for effective communications between all
concerned persons during a ship's transit to and from
berths or moorings, at berths or moorings and during
cargo handling/COW/tank cleaning and bunker
operations;
( o ) the organisation chart of the marine terminal/facility;
(2) with regard to facilities available for each berth, mooring or
jetty full details of:
( a ) the number of moorings, jetties or berths available;
( b ) the maximum and minimum sizes of ships for which
each mooring, berth, and jetty is designed;
( c ) the maximum and minimum actual depths of water
available at each mooring, berth or jetty;
( d ) the cargo transfer systems provided at each mooring,
berth or jetty;
( e ) product types and volumes actually being handled at
each mooring, berth or jetty and the product type and
volumes for which each was designed to be capable of
handling;
( f ) the product slates for each mooring, berth or jetty;
( g ) the general layout of each mooring, berth or jetty;
( h ) the designed and actual environmental constraints for
each mooring, berth or jetty, including wind and sea
state;
(3) with regard to mooring layouts full details of:
( a ) the maximum design mooring loads and permissible
number of lines per hook, bollard or mooring;
( b ) the design and actual physical constraints for each
mooring, berth or jetty, including:
(i) maximum ship LOA and beam;
(ii) minimum and maximum freeboard;
(iii) deadweight displacement;
(iv) position of transfer manifold(s);
(v) angle, direction and approach velocity for
berthing or mooring operations;
( c ) damage reports for each mooring, berth or jetty;
(4) with regard to cargo transfer full details of:
( a ) the environmental limits of equipment such as
hard-arms, booms, etc;
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 39
( b ) the operating envelopes for hard-arms, booms, etc.
including the limits of drift and surge;
( c ) the simultaneous cargo handling and/or ballast
procedures and possibilities routinely conducted or
available at each mooring, berth or jetty;
( d ) the manifold connection criteria;
( e ) the flow rates, temperature and pressures at which
substances are routinely handled and the design limits
of the transfer system in respect of such matters;
( f ) cargo hose specifications;
( g ) hose-testing and inspection criteria and records;
( h ) hard-arm/hose operating instructions, including drift
and surge detection and emergency release systems;
( i ) over-pressure protection systems and inspection
criteria;
(5) with regard to pollution prevention full details of:
( a ) all historical incident reports;
( b ) spill clean-up plans and equipment;
( c ) emergency shut-down system details, such as remotely
operated block valves, check valves, alarms and
testing/inspection criteria;
( d ) pollution prevention checklist;
( e ) pollution control contingency plans for both
operations conducted at the terminal/facility, its
moorings, berths and jetties, by the operator or by
third party bunker barges permitted by the operator to
use such facilities for bunkering operations;
(6) with regard to safety, full details of:
( a ) the berth, jetty and terminal/facility surveillance and
security systems, procedures and practices;
( b ) safety checklists;
( c ) the means of egress from the berths or jetties of a
terminal/facility (especially in case of an emergency);
( d ) fire-fighting equipment, including the number and
location of monitors, hydrants and portable
extinguishers and the design flow rates and pressure
for foam and water systems;
( e ) life-saving and personnel protective equipment;
( f ) contingency plans for effectively dealing with fire,
safety incidents and emergencies at the moorings,
berths or jetties at the terminal/facility or on board any
third-party bunker barge permitted by the operator to
use his terminal or facility.
Penalties.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
72. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
regulation 71 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction,
be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred liri for each
40 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
offence.
Insurance 
prerequisites for 
marine terminal or 
facility operators.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
73. The Director shall only consider issuing or renewing a
licence to a marine terminal/facility as a bunker operator when the
requirements of regulation 64(1)( a ) to ( e ) have been fully complied
with.
General pollution 
control and 
removal 
requirements.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
74. (1) The Director shall only consider issuing or renewing a
licence to a marine terminal/facility as a bunker operator when
pollution control and removal equipment, resources, trained
personnel and approved procedures for any potential consequences
of the most environmentally hazardous operations that can be
undertaken at such place are wholly provided by the operator and
approved by the Director.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), in the
event that such an operator cannot himself achieve such
requirements to the satisfaction of the Director, then such an
operator shall forthwith comply with the requirements of regulation
64(1)( i ) to ( m ).
General emergency 
and fire-fighting 
requirements.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
75. The Director shall only consider issuing or renewing a
licence to a marine terminal/facility bunkering operator when
fire-fighting and emergency resources, trained personnel and
approved procedures for any potential consequences of the most
environmentally hazardous operations that can be undertaken at
such place are wholly provided by the operator and approved by the
Director.
General 
operational 
requirements and 
resources.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
76. An operator of a marine terminal/facility shall bind himself
and all his servants, jointly and severally, to comply with all the
requirements of the Relevant Instruments with special emphasis to
the following:
( a ) an operator shall ensure that when undertaking
operations involving ship-to-terminal, terminal-to-ship
or ship-to-ship transfer at a terminal’s facilities of
dangerous cargoes or bunkers supplied by or permitted
by the operator to be supplied by third parties at
facilities controlled by that operator or ship’s COW or
tank-cleaning operations, the requirements of
regulation 33(5) to (8) are fully complied with;
( b ) the terminal/facility checklist copies as provided in
paragraph ( a ) shall be retained by the operator for at
least twelve months and shall be kept readily available
for inspection by the Director as required;
( c ) ship/shore bonding cables shall never be used;
( d ) the operational practices conducted with hoses and
other appliances, including jetty pipelines where
applicable, for operations referred to in paragraph ( a )
and the certification required for them shall be in strict
accordance with the requirements of regulation 35;
( e ) at a minimum biannually, all flexible underwater lines
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 41
used for the operations referred to in paragraph ( a )
shall be subjected to an underwater inspection, whilst
being maintained under the maximum pressure for
which these lines are certified;
( f ) at least once every twelve months, all jetty pipelines
and rigid underwater lines used for the operations
referred to in paragraph ( a ) shall be examined whilst
being maintained under the maximum pressure for
which these lines are certified;
( g ) inspections, as specified in paragraphs ( e ) and ( f ), shall
only be carried out by independent contractors
recognised by the Director and a certificate attesting to
and stating the results of each such test shall be
obtained by the operator;
( h ) prior to every operation, referred to in paragraph ( a ),
all surge or over-pressure protection arrangements and
devices for both underwater and surface product lines
being used, shall be tested;
( i ) during any operation, as referred to in paragraph ( a ),
all the requirements of regulation 65(1)( a ) to ( k ) shall
be made applicable to and strictly complied with by
marine terminal/facility operators;
( j ) prior to commencement of handling liquid bulk
cargoes, marine terminal/facility operators shall
ensure that all drain holes and pipes and all other
drains of any kind on their jetties, wharfs or quays,
where liquid bulk cargoes might escape in case of an
accident, are effectively closed and so remain, to
prevent such possibility;
( k ) during an operation, referred to in paragraph ( a ),
operator’s personnel, in conjunction with ship’s
personnel, shall inspect at intervals, ship’s mooring
lines and arrangements to ensure they are being safely
and adequately tended and maintained by the ship;
( l ) in addition to the primary communication system used
between the marine terminal/facility and the ship
during all operations, specified in paragraph ( a ), there
shall also be provided by such operator for immediate
use an adequate 'secondary communications' system in
the event of the normal communications system
failing. Such system may consist of an
intrinsically-safe portable V.H.F. with a dedicated
channel provided to the ship by the operator or any
other means acceptable to the Director.
Pollution 
prevention and 
control 
requirements.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
77. An operator shall accomplish and thereafter maintain the
following administrative, training and procedural requirements:
( a ) such operators shall be subject to the requirements of
regulation 65(1)( l ) to ( u );
( b ) an operator shall compile and conspicuously and
permanently display in weather-tight enclosures
42 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
immediately inside the terminal/facility entrances and
exits, clear detailed descriptions and plans of the
precise storage location of all pollution control
equipment available at such places, including those
located at any moorings, berths or jetties. If the storage
location is kept secured, then access to keys or other
means of entry to such places shall be detailed and
means of immediate access made readily available;
( c ) such descriptions/plans as specified in paragraph ( b )
shall be provided to the Director and also to any other
external service providing organisation which may
potentially be assisting in a terminal/facility pollution
control incident.
Safety and fire/
emergency 
requirements.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
78. An operator shall, within intervals specified in this
regulation, accomplish and thereafter maintain the following
resource provisions, administration, training and procedural
requirements:
(1) adequate quantities of water for both fire-fighting and
boundary/adjacent area cooling, and effective means
of application, shall be available for immediate use
both within a marine terminal or facility and at the
berths or jetties;
(2) adequate quantities and types of fire-fighting foam
approved by the Director and effective means of
application, shall be available for immediate use both
within a marine terminal/facility and at the berths or
jetties;
(3) where appropriate, adequate quantities and types of
firefighting Dry Powder (Potasium-based preferred for
terminals handling LPG/LNG gases) and other
appropriate approved fire-extinguishing media, and
effective means of application, shall be available for
immediate use both within a marine terminal/facility
and at the berths or jetties;
(4) all fire-fighting, emergency, safety equipment and
their operational ancillaries, including pumps.
compressors and generators, must be tested at regular
intervals not exceeding one month;
(5) when the terminal/facility is active, an operator shall
ensure the presence of an adequate number of
personnel who have been fully trained in the effective
prevention and combating of the types of fires and
other hazards possible in their operations;
(6) such personnel, referred to in paragraph (5), shall also
undertake appropriate 'refresher' courses at the
intervals recommended by the recognised training
organisations;
(7) an operator shall comply with all the requirements
contained in regulation 65(1)( o ) with respect to all
fire-fighting degradeable media;
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 43
(8) an operator shall at least once a month conduct fire/
safety and emergency drills, approved by the Director,
utilising his own resources and personnel;
(9) such drills shall include the actual usage or testing of
all equipment and systems by both designated and
alternate personnel, in as near emergency conditions'
as possible;
(10) a communications log, in a written or tape-recorded
form, shall be maintained throughout such drills, to
record all communications;
(11) an operator shall identify within his terminal/facility, a
'control centre', together with an alternate, from where
all firefighting/emergency/safety operations are
overall controlled and co-ordinated;
(12) during emergency situations or drills, such a 'control
centre' shall be manned by adequate number of
properly trained personnel having complete knowledge
of all contingency plans, operational and emergency
equipment and systems, including backup and
alternate resources;
(13) such 'control centre' personnel shall be provided with
efficient and effective primary and secondary
communication systems (if these are VHF or similar,
they must have 'private' dedicated channels), for
liaising with and controlling all efforts within the
terminal/facility, on board ships at the terminal/
facility’s moorings, berths or jetties, at other such
adjacent places and with external emergency
resources;
(14) where internal terminal/facility telephone systems are
used for 'control centre' purposes, communications
shall be capable of being over- ridden by the person in
overall charge of emergency operations;
(15) in the case of a large terminal/facility or where
moorings, berths or jetties are some distance from the
terminal or facility, the operator shall also establish an
emergency 'forward control' unit to be in local charge
of operations at the scene of the incident, in full liaison
with the 'control centre';
(16) the 'forward control' unit, shall consist of adequate
numbers of properly trained personnel having
complete knowledge of all the contingency plans,
operational and emergency equipment and systems,
including back-up and alternate resources;
(17) such 'forward control' personnel shall be supplied with
adequate types and quantities of efficient and effective
resources for dealing with any potential consequences
of the most environmentally hazardous operations that
can be undertaken at such places and be also provided
with primary and secondary communications systems
fully compatible with those of the 'control centre';
44 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
(18) operators shall assign 'call-signs' to different units of
their emergency-response teams and such 'call-signs'
shall be used in all emergency-response and drill
communications;
(19) in addition to the drills referred in paragraph (8), all
such operators shall fully participate in all joint
pollution-response exercises which may be organised
by the Director from time to time, in conjunction with
other concerned agencies and services;
(20) the operator shall compile adequate and effective
safety, emergency and fire-fighting contingency plans,
covering the most hazardous incidents that can occur
at the marine terminal or facility or its moorings,
berths and jetties:
(21) such plants as described in paragraph (20) must take
into account both the resources of the operator and
those of the local related Agencies and emergency
services;
(22) an operator shall provide safety equipment, such as
adequate quantities and types of fire-fighting
personnel protection suits, water-spray diffuser
nozzles for providing personnel protective water
barriers, self-contained breathing apparatus and
stretchers and their use included in all drills and
exercises;
(23) an operator shall comply with all the requirements
contained in regulation 65(1)( l ) to ( o ) with respect to
all fire-fighting, safety and emergency equipment;
(24) an operator shall ensure that at least once every twelve
months all portable fire-extinguishers used anywhere
within his installations are either examined or tested to
establish their continued effectiveness by an
organisation recognised by the Director. The testing
organisation shall verify same by clearly and indelibly
marking each such extinguisher;
(25) an operator shall make arrangements, at his own risk
and expense, with a tug company recognised by the
Director for the provision of an 'on-call' service
whereby a ship moored at his terminal/facility may be
quickly towed clear of such place dunging emergency
situations occurring either at such terminal/ facility or
on board the ship;
(26) an operator shall make arrangements, at his own risk
and expense, with organisations recognised by the
Director for the provision of an 'on-call' service
whereby 'water-side' firefighting assistance (including
boundary cooling) shall be quickly provided to ships
moored at his moorings' berths or jetties;
(27) an operator shall provide to the Director full details of
any arrangement referred to in paragraphs (25) and
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 45
(26) and such arrangements shall ever remain
effective;
(28) an operator shall comply with all the requirements
contained in regulation 77, with respect to all
fire-fighting, safety and emergency equipment and
systems;
(29) an operator shall compile and conspicuously and
permanently display in weather-tight enclosures
immediately inside the terminal/facility entrances and
exits, clear detailed descriptions and plans of all means
of emergency exits, for the use of personnel from
external organisations; assisting in an incident;
(30) if in case of an emergency the only means of escape
for crew members aboard a ship is through the
terminal/facility, any description and plan, referred to
in paragraph (29), shall also be in the same manner
displayed at berths or jetties;
(31) such descriptions and plans as detailed in paragraph
(29), shall be promulgated to external organisations
referred to in regulation 77( c );
(32) an operator shall cause retro-reflective or luminous
indicators to be conspicuously and permanently
displayed at salient points within the terminal/facility,
indicating the simplest and safest direction of exit
during an emergency situation;
(33) at a terminal/facility where ships are moored on long
breakwater or finger berths, an operator shall provide
permanent and easily accessible means of transverse
escape to a safe area clear of such berths (e.g. fixed
ladders giving access over to the other side of a berth's
protective wall);
(34) an operator shall ensure that all vehicles parked within
the terminal/facility or on its berths and jetties, shall
have their doors left unlocked and ignition keys in
place if in an area which may impede entry or exit in
an emergency situation;
(35) at liquefied gas terminals, the operator shall ensure the
effective spark arresters are efficiently fitted to the
exhausts of all vehicles prior entering the terminal
storage or handling areas and remain so fitted until the
vehicles leave;
(36) an operator shall compile and cause to be permanently
displayed in weather-tight enclosures clearly visible
from the location of the starting and control gear of all
fire-fighting equipment (including fire-pumps, fixed
foam and other media firefighting systems and
emergency electrical generators) clear detailed
instructions and illustrations of the means of operating
same;
(37) an operator shall ensure that all equipment and
machinery used, or which may be used within any
46 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
danger area aboard a ship using the terminal/facility
mooring, berth or jetty, or within any hazardous zone
ashore, are certified as intrinsically safe for the
operations which may be undertaken at such places;
(38) an operator shall also ensure that such equipment,
referred to in paragraph (37), remains intrinsically safe
and any equipment which may have become impaired
is either replaced or re-certified by the manufacturer or
an organisation recognised by the Director.
Penalties.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
79. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of
regulations 76 to 78 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand liri
for each offence.
Equipment and 
personal records.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
80. An operator shall keep records of all deployments and
provisions of equipment and of personnel as is required by these
regulations and same shall be maintained readily available for
inspection by the Director.
Certificates, plans 
and records.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
81. An operator shall ensure that all requirements of these
regulations in respect of any certificate, plan and record are
effectively accomplished and maintained readily available for
inspection by the Director.
PART V
Licensing
Bunker licences.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
82. No person shall act as a bunker operator unless he is in
possession of a valid licence issued by the Director for that
purpose.
Eligibility for a 
licence.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
83. An applicant shall not be liable for a licence, unless:
( a ) a citizen of Malta and who in the opinion of the
Director is of good character, has good knowledge of
the relevant regulations relating to bunker activities
and considered competent to provide such service or
facility; or
( b ) a body corporate established under and subject to the
laws of Malta, having a place of business in Malta and
satisfying the Director that it can and will ensure due
observance of all the laws and regulations relating to
bunkering.
Application for a 
licence.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
84. A licence referred to in this part of the regulations may be
granted after an application on the appropriate form is presented to
the Director, accompanied by all the documentation and
certification prescribed therein.
Conditions.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
85. The Director may at time of issue, or at any other time,
attach to a licence any condition or conditions which he may deem
fit.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 47
Abrogation of a 
licence.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
86. At any time the Director may, without assigning any reason
therefor, suspend, cancel, revoke or refuse renewal of any licence
previously granted or renewed by him under these regulations.
Delivery of 
licence.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
87. Any person or body corporate whose licence under these
regulations has been suspended, cancelled or revoked by the
Director, shall within forty-eight hours of such suspension,
cancellation or revocation, deliver his licence to the Director.
Compliance with 
instructions from 
the Director.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
88. The holder of any licence issued under these regulations
shall comply with any instructions, orders or directives given by
the Director from time to time.
Display of licence.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
89. Every person or body corporate licensed under these
regulations shall carry or display such licence when acting in the
capacity for which he is licensed and produce same to an officer
authorised by the Director on demand.
Fees.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
90. The fees shown in Schedule E shall be payable in respect of
bunkering operators licences issued under these regulations.
PART VI
Miscellaneous
Tankers and 
bunker barges in 
Grand Harbour.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996;
L.N. 75 of 2002.
91. Notwithstanding any other regulation herein:
( a ) a tanker carrying only non-volatile petroleum or
sulphuric acid may enter Grand Harbour for the
purpose of discharging at a marine terminal or facility;
( b ) a bunker barge or a tanker, with her last cargo being a
non-volatile petroleum cargo, or with her tanks in the
inert or gas free condition, may be allowed to enter
Grand Harbour to load non-volatile petroleum from a
marine terminal or facility.
Director’s 
authority not 
abrogated.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
92. Nothing in these regulations shall abrogate the authority of
the Director in respect of any safety and pollution prevention/
control requirement for any ship, bunker barge, marine terminal/
facility or shore operation within the waters of Malta.
Director’s 
prerogative to have 
emergency use of 
equipment and 
resources required 
to be provided 
under these 
regulations.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
93. The Director reserves the right to be given as required for
the purposes of combating any emergency or pollution incident,
immediate access to, use and control of any or all such safety and
pollution equipment or resources as are required under these
regulations to be provided on, at, or by any ship, bunker barge,
marine terminal/facility, whether such emergency occurs at the
source of such equipment or resources or not. Such equipment shall
be provided free of charge, but used at the risk of the Director and
reasonable costs incurred by the provider in respect of any
consumables used, or equipment damaged, will subsequently be
reimbursed.
48 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Director’s 
prerogative for the 
regulations.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
94. Nothing in these regulations shall prevent that the Director
may prescribe greater or lesser requirements than are prescribed in
these regulations and their Schedules, upon any ship or bunker
barge, or the owner, Master or crew members thereof, or upon any
marine terminal or facility operator.
Director’s overall 
operational 
incident control.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
95. Nothing in these regulations shall prevent that, within the
waters of Malta all fire, safety, salvage and pollution control
incident operations, shall be conducted solely under the overall
operational control of the Director.
Liability and 
responsibility of 
the Authority.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
96. The liability and responsibility for compliance with these
regulations and with any conditions which the Director may
impose, shall always jointly rest with the owner of the ship, the
Master of the ship and operator of the marine terminal/facility and
bunker barge, where applicable, and the Authority shall not be held
liable for any consequences arising from such owner’s, Master’s or
operator’s acts of omission or commission in respect to any of the
requirements of these regulations.
Exemption of 
naval ships.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
97. The Director may exempt a ship or bunker barge belonging
to or forming part of the naval force of a country, from compliance
with any or all of the provisions of these regulations.
Proceedings before 
Court of 
Magistrates.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
Cap. 9.
98. Proceedings for an offence against these regulations shall
be taken before the Court of Magistrates (Malta) or the Court of
Magistrates (Gozo), as the case may be, and shall be in accordance
with the provisions of the Criminal Code regulating the procedure
before the said courts as courts of criminal judicature.
Regulations not in 
derogation of any 
other provisions.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1996.
99. The provisions contained in these regulations are in
addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law
or regulations in force in Malta.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 49
Notice of Expected Arrival and Status of an Oil, Gas or Chemical Ship,
or a Ship Carrying Dangerous or Potentially Polluting Packaged Substances
or Solid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes
A. LOADING (In the event of any material changes to planned cargo types/
quantities/stowage, a corrected "Schedule A" must be provided to the Executive
Director of Ports by the Master, at least 3 hours prior the vessel sailing.
1. Nature of applicable cargo, correct technical name, UN number and page, (if
applicable) and the IMO hazard classes in accordance with the IMDG/IBC/
IGC Codes/MARPOL NLS category, as applicable, and in the case of
dangerous cargoes of classes 1, 2, 6.2, and 7, such additional information as
is specified in section 9 of the General Introduction to the IMDG Code:
2. quantity(ies):
3. flashpoint(s) or flashpoint range(s), (as appropriate):
4. Details of any such cargo in transit, next port of call and ETA at that port:
5. Detail any known defects of cargo containment/handling systems, which
may lead to undue hazards arising:
B. DISHARCHING
1. Nature of applicable cargo, correct technical name, UN number and page, (if
applicable) and the IMO hazard classes in accordance with the IMDG/IBC/
IGC Codes/MARPOL NLS category, as applicable, and in the case of
dangerous cargoes of classes 1, 2, 6.2, and 7, such additional information as
is specified in section 9 of the General Introduction to the IMDG Code:
2. Quantity(ies) and locations on board. Identification marks if in freight
containers/portable tanks:
3. Flashpoint(s) or flashpoint range(s), (as appropriate):
4. Distribution of such cargo on board, including that to be unloaded and that
in transit:
5. Detail any known defects of cargo/packaging/containment/handling
systems, which may lead to undue hazards arising:
SCHEDULE A Substituted by:L.N. 13 of 1996.
Regulation 12
1. Name of ship 2. Flag 3. Call Sign 4. IMO No. 5. G.R.T. 6. N.R.T. 7. D.W.T.
8. Last port of call 9. Length 10. Beam 11. Arrival Draft 12. Estimated Dep. Draft
F: A: F: A:
13. Name of harbour proceeding to: 14. ETA:
a. Date b. Time
15. Ship’s owner 16. Ship’s Agent 17. Cargo owner
18. Does ship have SBT or CBT 19.Operational I.G. System 20. Is slop disposal required
a. Yes/No b. O 2  Levels:
50 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
6. If Dangerous Packaged Goods are carried, has this entailed payment of any
extra insurance premium on the ship?
C. Does the ship have any defect of hull, machinery or navigational equipment
which may:
1. affect the safe manoeuvrability of the ship;
2. affect the safety of other ships, persons or property on the land or within the
territorial waters of Malta;
3. constitute a hazard to the marine environment.
D. Give full details of all Safety, CLC/IOPP/ICF/NLS certificates (where
applicable) & their validity period
E. Confirm that a list, manifest or loading plan giving details and locations of
applicable cargo, is on board
F. Gas Carriers, only : Confirm that prior arrival all cargo system and transfer
equipment has been inspected, tested and found satisfactory and that all void spaces
are inerted.
All Cargo, Slops, Residue handling and transfer, Ballast, Tank-cleaning,
COW, Inerting, Gas freeing, Bunkering and Repair operations carried out anywhere
within the ports, harbour or territorial waters of Malta, shall be carried out in full
compliance with the requirements of the Dangerous Cargo Ships, Marine Terminals
and Facilities and Bunkering Regulations .
SCHEDULE B
SHIP/SHORE SAFETY CHECK LIST
Ship’s name ..........................................................................................................
Berth ....................................................... Port .....................................................
Date of Arrival ....................................... Time of Arrival .....................................
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION
The safety of operations requires that all questions should be answered
affirmatively  à if an affirmative answer is not possible, the reason should be given
and agreement reached upon appropriate precautions to be taken between the ship
and the terminal. Where any question is not considered to be applicable a note to that
effect shall be inserted in the remarks column.
à - the presence of this symbol in the columns 'ship' and 'terminal' indicates that
checks shall be carried out by the party concerned
The presence of the letters A and P in the column 'Code' indicates the following:
A - the mentioned procedures and agreements shall be in writing and signed by
both parties.
P - in the case of a negative answer the operation shall not be carried out without
the permission of the Executive Director (Ports).
R - indicates items to be revisited at intervals not exceeding that agreed in the
declaration.
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 51
PART A
Bulk Liquids - General
S
H
I
P
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
C
O
D
E
Remarks
A1 Is the ship securely moored? à à R
A2 Are emergency towing wires correctly
positioned? à à R
A3 Is there safe access between ship and
shore? à à R
A4 Is the ship ready to move under its
own power? à PR
A5 Is there an effective deck watch in
attendance on board and adequate
supervision on the terminal and on the
ship? à à R
A6 Is the agreed ship/shore
communication system operative? à à AR
A7 Have the procedures for cargo, bunker
and ballast handling been agreed? à à AR
A8 Has the emergency shut down
procedure been agreed? à à A
A9 Are fire hoses and fire fighting
equipment on board and ashore
positioned and ready for immediate
use? à à AR
A10 Are cargo and bunker hoses/arms in
good condition and properly rigged
and appropriate for the service
intended? à à
A11 Are scuppers effectively plugged and
drip trays in position, both on board
and ashore? à à R
A12 Are unused cargo and bunker
connections including the stern
discharge line, if fitted, blanked? à à
A13 Are sea and overboard discharge
valves, when not in use, closed and
lashed? à à
A14 Are all cargo and bunker tank lids
closed? à à
A15 Is the agreed tank venting system
being used? à à AR
A16 Are hand torches of an approved type? à à
A17 Are portable VHF/UHF transceivers
of an approved type? à à
A18 Are the ship’s main radio transmitter
aerials earthed and radars switched
off? à
A19 Are electric cables to portable
electrical equipment disconnected
from power? à à
A20 Are all external doors and ports in the
accommodation closed? à à R
52 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
If the ship is fitted or required to be fitted with an Inert Gas System
the following questions must be answered
If the ship is fitted with, and intends to Crude Oil Wash (COW)
the following questions must be answered
A21 Are air conditioning intakes which
which may permit the entry of cargo
vapours closed? à à
A22 Are smoking requirements being
observed? à à R
A23 Are naked light requirements being
observed? à à
A24 Is there provision for an emergency
escape possibility? à à
A25 Are sufficient personnel on board and
ashore to deal with an emergency? à à R
A26 Are adequate insulating means in
place in the ship/shore connection? à à
A27 Have measures been taken to ensure
sufficient pumproom ventilation? à
A28 Is the ship capable of "closed loading"
and is this to be complied with if
applicable? à à R
A29 Are ship emergency fire control plans
located externally? à à
PART A -  continued
Bulk Liquids - General
S
H
I
P
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
C
O
D
E
Remarks
A30 Is the Inert Gas System fully
operational and in good working
order? à PR
A31 Have the fixed and portable oxygen
analysers been calibrated and are they
working properly? à R
A32 Are all cargo tank atmospheres 8% or
less oxygen content by volume and
with positive pressure? à à PR
A33 Are all the individual tank IG valves
(if fitted) correctly set and locked? à R
A34 Are all the persons in charge of cargo
operations aware that in the case of
failure of the Inert Gas Plant,
discharge operations are to cease and
the terminal to be advised? à
PART A -  continued
Bulk Liquids - General
S
H
I
P
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
C
O
D
E
Remarks
A35 Is the Pre-Arrival Crude Oil Washing
Check-list, as contained in the
approved Crude Oil Washing Manual,
satisfactorily completed? à à
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 53
A36 Is the Crude Oil Washing Check-list
for use before, during and after Crude
Oil Washing, as contained in the
approved Crude Oil Washing Manual,
available and agreed to be used? à à R
54 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
PART B
Additional Checks - Bulk Liquids Chemicals
S
H
I
P
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
C
O
D
E
Remarks
B1 Is information available giving the
necessary data for the safe handling of
the cargo including, where applicable,
a manufacturer’s inhibition
certificate? à à
B2 Is sufficient and suitable protective
equipment (including self-contained
breathing apparatus) and protective
clothing ready for immediate use? à à
B3 Are counter measures against
accidental personal contact with the
cargo agreed? à à
B4 Is the cargo handling rate compatible
with the automatic shut down system
if in use? à à A
B5 Are cargo system gauges and alarms
correctly set and in good order? à à AR
B6 Are portable vapour detection
instruments readily available for the
products to be handled? à à R
B7 Has information on fire fighting media
and procedures been exchanged? à à
B8 Are transfer hoses of suitable material
resistant to the action of the cargoes? à à
B9 Is cargo handling being performed
with the permanent installed pipeline
systems? à à PR
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 55
PART C
Additional Checks - Bulk Liquefied Gases
S
H
I
P
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
C
O
D
E
Remarks
C1 Is information available giving the
necessary data for the safe handling of
the cargo including, where applicable,
a manufacturer’s inhibition
certificate? à à
C2 Is the water spray system ready for
use? à à
C3 Is sufficient and suitable protective
equipment (including self-contained
breathing apparatus) and protective
clothing ready for immediate use? à à
C4 Are void spaces properly inerted
where required? à
C5 Are all remote control valves in
working order? à à
C6 Are cargo tank safety relief valves
lined up to the ship’s venting system
and are by-passes closed? à
C7 Are the required cargo pumps and
compressors in good order, and have
the maximum working pressures been
agreed between ship and shore? à à A
C8 Is reliquefication or boil off control
equipment in good order? à
C9 Is gas detection equipment set for the
cargo, calibrated and in good working
order? à à
C10 Are cargo system gauges and alarms
correctly calibrated, set and in good
working order? à à
C11 Are emergency shut down systems
working properly? à à
C12 Does shore know the closing rate of
ship’s automatic valves; does ship
have similar details of shore system? à à A
C13 Has information been exchanged
between ship and shore on minimum
working temperatures of the cargo
systems? à à A
C14 Are all cargo tanks protected against
inadvertent overfilling at all times
while any cargo operation is in
progress? à à
56 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
Declaration
We have checked, where appropriate jointly, the items on this check list, and have
satisfied ourselves that the entries we have made are correct to the best of our
knowledge, and arrangements have been made to carry out repetitive checks as
necessary.
Application
The Check List applies to the cargo handling operations of oil tankers, chemical
carriers and gas tankers and is divided into three parts.
Part A - General - (all tankers)
Part B - Additional - (chemical tankers handling chemicals)
Part C - Additional - (gas tankers handling liquefied gases)
All tankers - oil, chemical and gas, should complete Part A. Additionally, tankers
loading or discharging bulk chemicals should complete Part B and gas tankers
loading or discharging liquefied gases should complete Part C. The declaration at the
end of the Check List shall be made in all cases.
The Mutual Safety Examination
A tanker presenting itself to a loading or discharging terminal needs to check its
own preparations and its fitness for the safety of the intended cargo operation.
Additionally, the master of the ship has a responsibility to assure himself that the
terminal operator has likewise made proper preparations for the safe operation of his
terminal.
Equally the terminal needs to check its own preparations and to be assured that the
tanker has carried out its checks and has made appropriate arrangements.
The Check List, by its questions and its requirements for exchange of written
agreements for certain procedures, is a minimum basis for the essential
Ship Shore
Are tank cleaning operations planned during the ship’s stay
alongside the shore installation? Yes/No*
If so have the Executive Directors (Ports) and terminal been
informed? Yes/No* Yes/No*
* Delete Yes or No as appropriate
For Ship For Terminal
Name ................................................. Name ..................................................
Rank .................................................. Rank ...................................................
Signature ........................................... Signature ............................................
   Time .................................................
   Date .................................................
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 57
considerations which should be included in such a mutual examination.
Some of the Check List’s questions are directed to consideration for which the
tanker has prime responsibility. Others apply to both tanker and terminal and the
remainder to the terminal alone. It is not suggested that every item should be the
subject of personal checking by both representatives conducting the examination.
All items lying within the responsibility of the tanker shall be personally checked
by the tanker’s representative and similarly all items of the terminal’s responsibility
personally checked by the terminal representatives. In discharge of their full
responsibilities however, both representatives, by questioning the other, by sighting
of records and, where felt appropriate, by joint visual inspection shall assure
themselves that the standards of safety on both sides of the operation are fully
acceptable.
The joint declaration shall not be signed until such mutual assurance is achieved.
Thus all applicable questions should result in an affirmative mark in the boxes
provided. If a difference of opinion arises on the adequacy of any arrangements
made or conditions found, the operation shall not be started until measures taken are
jointly accepted.
A negative answer to the questions coded "P" does not necessarily mean that the
intended operation cannot be carried out. In such cases, however, permission to
proceed must be obtained from the Executive Director (Ports).
Where an item is agreed to be not applicable to the ship, to the terminal or to the
operation envisaged a note to that effect shall be entered in the "Remarks" column.
While the Check List is based upon cargo handling operations it is required that
the same mutual examination, using the Check List as appropriate, be carried out
when a tanker presents itself at a berth for tank cleaning after carriage of substances
covered by these regulations.
Deviations
The conditions under which the operation takes place may change during the
process. The changes may be such that safety or pollution prevention can no longer
be regarded as guaranteed. The party noticing or causing the unsafe condition is
under an obligation to take all necessary actions. which may include stopping the
operation, to re-establish safe conditions. The presence of the unsafe condition shall
be reported to the other party and where necessary co-operation with the other party
shall be sought.
58 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
BUNKERING CHECKLIST FOR SHIPS RECEIVING BUNKERS
(to be completed by the receiving ship in addition to the relevant sections in the 
"Ship to Ship Transfer" or "Ship/Shore Safety" Checklist, as appropriate)
Name of Ship Name of Captain Berth or Area Name of Bunker Barge Date of Transfer
1. Rank & Name of person who measured the contents of the Bunker tanks:
2. The Measurement was: Tank No. ................. tonnes. Residual capacity ........... tonnes
Tank No. ................. tonnes. Residual capacity ........... tonnes
Tank No. ................. tonnes. Residual capacity ........... tonnes
Tank No. ................. tonnes. Residual capacity ........... tonnes
Tank No. ................. tonnes. Residual capacity ........... tonnes
How much Bunker oil is to be transhipped: Fuel M 3 (actual) DieselM 3 (actual)Lub.M 3 (actual)
The agreed pumping rate is Fuel M 3 /Hr. DieselM 3 /Hr.Lub.M 3 /Hr.
5. What are the means of communication between the ships? ..................................................................
6. Who is responsible for communication with the bunker vessel?
Rank & Name: ......................................................................................... ......................... ..............
7. How often are the contents of the bunker tanks measured: every ....................... minutes.
8. Who is responsible for the measurements referred to in question 7?
Rank & Name: ......................................................................................... ......................... ..............
9. Who is in charge of supervising and of taking immediate action in the event of a malfunction?
Rank & Name: ......................................................................................... ......................... ..............
Signed
Place: ....................................................... Date: .........................................................
Signature: ..................................................................................
Rank & Name:
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 59
SHIP TO SHIP BUNKER TRANSFER CHECKLIST
(To be completed before any Bunker transfer is conducted)
Name of Bunker Barge Berth or Area Name of Receiving Ship Date of Transfer
ITEM
B
u
n
k
e
r
B
a
r
g
e
R
e
c
e
i
v
i
n
g
S
h
i
p REMARKS
1. Is the gangway in position and secured (where applicable)? à à
2. Has communication system been established with the other ship? à à
3. Have emergency signals and shutdown n procedures been
agreed? à à
4. Has bridge watch been established? Has anchor watch been
established (where applicable)? à à
5. Has efficient deck watch been established with particular
attention to moorings, fender. hoses and manifold observation? à à
6. Is there an efficient engine room watch and are main engines on
standby? à à
7. Has initial loading rate been agreed with other ship? à à
8. Has maximum loading rate been agreed with other ship? à à
9. Has topping-off rate been agreed with other ship? à à
10. Are scuppers effectively plugged and drip-trays in position under
the manifold connections? à à
11. Have hoses been tested after connection (where applicable)? à à
12. Are hoses suspended efficiently? à à
13. Are sea and overboard discharge valves of cargo system tightly
closed and sealed? à à
14. Are tools located at manifold ready for rapid disconnecting? à à
15. Are window type air conditioning units (where fitted)
disconnected? à à
16. Are air conditioning intakes which may permit the entry of cargo
vapours closed? à à
17. Are fire axes in position fore and aft? à à
18. Are all unused manifold connections closed and blanked? à à
19. Is firefighting and anti-pollution equipment checked and ready
for use? à à
20. Is the agreed tank venting system being used? à à
21. Is the inert gas system (where fitted) operating? à à
22. Is the radio station closed down and aerials earthed (grounded)
where necessary? à à
23. Has the other ship been advised that this check-list has been
completed in the affirmative? à à
FOR BUNKER BARGE/RECEIVING SHIP*
Name:
Rank:
Signature: Date:
* Delete as appropriate
60 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
EXAMPLE OF CHECK LIST FOR MARINE LOADING ARMS
No. Operation Yes No Remarks
I. PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKS TO CONFIRM MANIFOLD CONNECTION CRITERIA
1. Is the flange face vertical and parallel with the ship’s
side.
2. Is the manifold flange setback from the rail within the
design limits of m, min. to m, max.
3. Is the manifold O and length consistent with the
following:
O Material Permissible
Cantilever Length
Including Spools
4. Is the flange size type and I.D. (consider also pipe
I.D.) compatible with the arms O/B flange or coupler:
Flange Flange Flange Flange I.D. Pipe
Type Size Press
Rating
5. For coupler equipped arms, is the clearance behind the
manifold flange . (Consider the greater rearward
clearance is needed when connecting to reducers.)
6. Are the vessel’s manifold spacings consistent with the
following criteria:
Check case Arms connected Spacing between
which governs simultaneously manifolds to
for pending which arms will
vessel be connected
Min.Max.
7. Is the height of the manifold centerline within the
following limits:
Minimum: Maximum:
8. Will the manifolds remain within the design envelope:
*Upper elevation of envelope:
*Lower elevation of envelope:
Note: It is necessary that the vessel also comply with
the min/max. manifold spacings given in 2 and 6 and
the vessel motion be limited to the following:
Surge (movement along pier)
+
Drift (movement off pier)
*Must be reduced if spotting of active manifolds is
not in accordance with the design basis, which usually
is centered on the active arm(s).
9. Is the manifold support able to sustain uplift as well as
downward loads.
10. Are there any obstructions directly below or in front
of the manifolds which would interfere with
engagement of the coupler or placement of the jack.
No. Operation Yes No Remarks
II. CHECKS TO BE CARRIED OUT DURING CARGO HANDLING
1. Is the vessel moored correctly with respect to the
arm(s) centerline.
Permissible mooring offset = + and -
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 61
2. Is the wind speed within design limits = km/
hour (gust).
3. Are the supplementary and/or primary jacks in place
and properly adjusted.
4. Are the swivel nitrogen purge pressures and flow rates
being maintained (LNG arms).
5. Is the product flow rate within design limits =
m 3 /HR.
6. Are the fluid swivels and coupler connectors free of
leakage.
7. Is the ice build-up limited to within the design value =
(LPG/LNG arms).
8. Are the arms remaining a safe distance apart and from
deck/platform equipment ( at the counterweights
and between other parts of the arm.)
9. Are the product temperature and pressure within
design limits:
Product Design Pressure
Temp.°C kPa
10. Is the vessel movement being limited to the design
conditions of:
Surge = +
Drift =
11. Is the arm free of vibration.
12. Is the ship’s crew maintaining proper tension in the
mooring lines.
13. Prior to disconnection - is any ice formation removed
from the arm (LPG/LNG arms).
62 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
SPECIMEN LETTER FOR ISSUE TO MASTERS
OF TANKERS AT TERMINALS
Company ..................................
Terminal ..................................
Date ........................................
Dear Sir,
Responsibility for the prevention of pollution and the safe conduct of
operations whilst your ship is at this terminal rests jointly with you, as master of the
ship and with the responsible terminal representative. We wish, therefore, before
operations start, to seek your full co-operation and understanding on the safety
requirements set out in the Ship/Shore Safety Check Lists.
We expect you and all under your command to adhere strictly to these
requirements throughout your stay alongside this terminal and, for our part, we will
ensure that our personnel do likewise and co-operate fully with you in the mutual
interest of safe and efficient operations.
During the whole of your ship’s stay at this terminal, you or your deputised
officer shall be readily available on board. Before the start of operations, and from
time to time thereafter, for our mutual safety a member of the terminal staff, where
appropriate together with a responsible officer, will make a routine inspection of
your ship to ensure that the questions on the Ship/Shore Safety Check List can be
answered in the affirmative. Where corrective action is needed we will not agree to
operations commencing or, should they have been started, will require them to be
stopped.
Similarly, if you consider safety is endangered by any action on the part of
our staff or by any equipment under our control you should demand immediate
cessation of operations.
THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE WITH SAFETY OR POLLUTION
PREVENTION
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter by countersigning and returning the
attached copy
Signed: ..........................................................
Terminal Representative
Terminal Representative on duty is .............................
Position or Title ........................................................
Telephone No. ..........................................................
UHF/VHF Channel ....................................................
Signed: ........................................
Master
SS/MV: .......................................
Date: ................ Time: ................
The Master The Dangerous Cargo Ships, Marine
Terminals and Facilities and Bunkering
Regulations, imposed upon these facilities
and adjacent installations by the Malta
Maritime Authority, shall be strictly observed
by both you and your crew.
SS/MV ........................................
Port .............................................
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 63
FIRE NOTICE
FIRE INSTRUCTIONS IN CASE OF FIRE
DO NOT HESITATE RAISE THE ALARM
TERMINAL FIRE ALARM
At this terminal the fire alarm signal is:
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
IN CASE OF FIRE
1. Sound one or more blasts of the ship’s whistle each blast of not less than 10
seconds duration supplemented by a continuous sounding of the general alarm
system.
2. Contact the terminal and Executive Director (Ports)
Telephone number ................................
UHV/VHF communication channel ..........
ACTION - SHIP
Fire on your ship
- Raise alarm
- Fight fire and prevent fire spreading
- Inform terminal and Executive Director (Ports)
- Cease all cargo operations and then close all valves
- Stand by to disconnect hoses or arms
- Bring engines to standby
Fire on other ship or ashore
Stand by, and when instructed:
- Cease all cargo operations and then close all valves
- Disconnect hoses or arms
- Bring engines and crew to standby, ready to unberth
ACTION - TERMINAL
Fire on a Ship
- Raise alarm
- Contact ship
- Cease all cargo operations and then close all valves
- Stand by to disconnect hoses or arms
- Stand by to assist fire fighting
- Inform all ships and Executive Director (Ports)
- Implement terminal emergency plan
Fire Ashore
- Raise alarm
- Cease all cargo operations and then close all valves
- Fight fire and prevent fire spreading
- If required stand by to disconnect hoses or arms
- Inform all ships and the Executive Director (Ports)
64 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
- Implement terminal emergency plan
IN THE CASE OF FIRE THE TERMINAL PERSONNEL WILL DIRECT THE
MOVEMENT OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ASHORE
SCHEDULE C
HOT WORK PERMIT
Relating to any work involving temperature conditions which are likely to be of
sufficient intensity to cause ignition of combustible gases, vapours or liquids in or
adjacent to the area involved.
General
This permit is valid From ................ Hrs Date ............................
To .................... Hrs Date ............................
Location of work .................................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Has enclosed space entry permit been issued? Yes/No
Description of work .............................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Personnel carrying out work ................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Responsible person in attendance ..........................................................................
Section 1
1.1 Has the work area been checked with a combustible gas indicator for
hydrocarbon vapours? Yes/No
Time ......................
1.2 Has the surrounding area been made safe?Yes/No
Time ......................
Section 2
2.1 Has the work area been checked with a combustible gas indicator for
hydrocarbon vapours? Yes/No
2.2 Has the equipment or pipeline been purged? Yes/No
2.3 Has the equipment or pipeline been blanked? Yes/No
2.4 Is this equipment or pipeline free of liquid? Yes/No
2.5 Is the surrounding area safe? Yes/No
2.6 Is additional fire protection available? Yes/No
2.7 Is the equipment isolated electrically? Yes/No
2.8 Special conditions/precautions ................................................................
................................................................................................................
In the circumstances noted it is considered safe to proceed with this work.
Signed ....................................................................... Master/Responsible Officer
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 65
................................................................... Person in charge of work team
Section 3
The work has been completed and all persons under my supervision, materials and
equipment have been withdrawn.
Authorised person in charge ................................ Time ............ Date ...................
First copy for display at work area
Second copy for ships or terminal records.
HOT WORK PERMIT
GENERAL
( a ) Starting/finishing time must not exceed the Authorized
Signatories’/Responsible Officer’s working hours.
( b ) Specific location of work to be given.
( c ) Description of work to include type of equipment to be used.
SECTION 1 Applies to all hazardous work not involving naked flame or
continuous spark production, and would include use of electrical
equipment, use of air driven rotary equipment, lifting equipment/
materials over operating plant.
SECTION 2 Applies to all hot work involving high temperatures, open flame,
arc or continuous source of sparks, etc. This type of work
includes but is not limited to:
Welding or burning
Grinding
Sand or grit blasting
Metal chipping
Tests for combustible gas should be carried out immediately
before commencement of hot work and at frequent intervals as
long as the work is in progress.
66 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
COLD WORK PERMIT
Relating to any work which will not involve generation of temperature conditions
likely to be of sufficient intensity to cause ignition of combustible gases, vapours or
liquids in or adjacent to the area involved.
General
This permit is valid From ................ Hrs Date ............................
To .................... Hrs Date ............................
Location of work .................................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Has enclosed space entry permit been issued? Yes/No
Description of work .............................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Personnel carrying out work ................................................................................. 
..............................................................................................................................
Responsible person in attendance ..........................................................................
Section 1
Preparation and checks to be carried out by Officer in Charge of work to be
performed.
1.1 The equipment/pipeline has been prepared as follows:
Vented to atmosphere: Yes/No Drained: Yes/No
Washed: Yes/No Purged:  Yes/No
Other .............................................................................................
1.2 The equipment/pipeline has been isolated as follows:
Lines Spaded: Yes/No Lines Disconnected: Yes/No
Valves Closed: Yes/No Other .....................................
1.3. Is equipment free from:
Oil: Yes/No Gas: Yes/No H 2 S Yes/No
Steam: Yes/No Pressure: Yes/No
1.4 Is surrounding area free from hazards? Yes/No
1.5 If work is to be performed on electrical equipment has that equipment
been isolated? Yes/No
Section 2
Information and instructions to person carrying out work:
2.1 The following personal protection must be worn .....................................
................................................................................................................
2.2 Equipment/Pipeline contained following material in service ....................
................................................................................................................
2.3 Equipment expected to contain the following hazardous material when
opened: ...................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................
2.4 Special Conditions/Precautions ...............................................................
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 67
................................................................................................................
In the circumstances noted it is considered safe to proceed with this work.
Signed ....................................................................... Master/Responsible Officer
................................................................... Person in charge of work team
Section 3
The work has been completed and all persons under my supervision,
materials and equipment have been withdrawn.
Authorised person in charge .................. Time ............. Date ..................
First copy for display at work area
Second copy for ships or terminal records.
COLD WORK PERMIT
GENERAL
( a ) Starting/finishing time must not exceed the Authorized Signatories’/
Responsible Officer’s working hours.
( b ) Specific location of work to be given.
( c ) Description of work to include type of equipment to be used.
( d ) This permit should be used for but not limited to the following cold
work.
1. Blanking/deblanking.
2. Disconnecting and connecting pipework.
3. Removing and fitting of valves, blanks, spades or blinds.
4. Work on pumps, etc.
5. Clean up (oil spills).
ELECTRICAL ISOLATION CERTIFICATE
No .........................
DRIVE No. AND/OR EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
WORK TO BE DONE
WORK TO BE DONE BY
ON WORK PERMIT No ......
METHOD OF ISOLATION
AUTHORISED BY
TIME DATE
SUPPLY ISOLATED) BY
EIC RECEIVED BY
68 [ S.L.352.13
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION CONVENTIONS TO WHICH 
THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA HAS ACCEDED, AS AT 1st JANUARY, 2002.
(i) International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.
(ii) Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea,
1972.
(iii) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL), 1973/78, (including Annexes I and II).
(iv) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974/78.
(v) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.
(vi) International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.
(vii) The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of
Wastes and other Material, 1972.
(viii) International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage
(CLC), 1992.
(ix) International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for
Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (Fund), 1992.
(x) Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organisation
(INMARSAT).
WORK COMPLETED BY
WORK CLEARED BY
SUPPLY RECONNECTION
AUTHORISED BY
SUPPLY RECONNECTED BY
NOTE: THE PERSON ENGAGED ON THE ABOVE WORK MUST HOLD
THIS CERTIFICATE UNTIL THE JOB IS COMPLETED WHEN HE
WILL SIGN IT, HAVE IT CLEARED BY HIS IMMEDIATE
SUPERVISOR AND RETURN TO THE ISSUING AUTHORITY.
Amended by:
L.N. 75 of 2002. SCHEDULE D Regulation 3
DANGEROUS CARGO SHIPS, MARINE TERMINALS 
AND FACILITIES AND BUNKERING [ S.L.352.13 69
SCHEDULE E
(Regulation 90)
FEES FOR ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL OF BUNKER OPERATOR’S LICENCE 
AND CHARGES FOR INSPECTION OF BUNKER OPERATOR’S FACILITIES.
* Application for renewal of a bunker operator’s licence shall be submitted not
less than 14 days prior to the expiry date of such licence.
( a ) Processing of an application for a bunker operator’s licence ........ Lm250
( b ) Issue of a bunker operator’s licence ............................................ Lm1,000
( c ) Renewal of a bunker operator’s licence ....................................... Lm75
( d ) Issue of a certified copy of a licence ........................................... Lm25
( e ) Late submission * of an application to renew a licence ................ Lm50
( f ) The Director may, subject to the provisions of these regulations and under
such conditions as he may deem appropriate, undertake an inspection of a bunker
operator’s operational activities and facilities, both on and off-shore, at the expense
of the owner, subject to a minimum charge of Lm10 per hour or part thereof per
inspector and a further minimum charge of Lm50 per day or part thereof if water
transport is necessary or deemed appropriate to effectively conduct such an
inspection.
