Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations, 2004

Part 2 : General Requirements

7. Stowage and securing
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(1)The owner and master must ensure that—
(a)cargo and cargo units carried on or under deck are loaded, stowed and secured so as to prevent as far as is practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board, and loss of cargo overboard;
(b)appropriate precautions are taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes or cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions to ensure that no structural damage to the ship occurs and to maintain adequate stability throughout the voyage;
(c)appropriate precautions are taken during loading and transport of cargo units on board ro-ro ships, especially with regard to the securing arrangements on board such ships and on the cargo units and with regard to the strength of the securing points and lashings;
(d)in the case of a ship to which regulation 6(3) applies, all cargoes, other than solid bulk cargoes, and cargo units on board are stowed and secured throughout the voyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual; and
(e)in the case of a ship with roll-on roll-off cargo spaces to which regulation 6(3) applies, all cargoes and cargo units on board are stowed and secured in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual before the ship leaves the berth.

 

(2)Where packaged goods have been packed into or onto a cargo unit, the shipper or forwarder of such goods must ensure that—
(a)the cargo is packed and secured so as to prevent, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board; and
(b)if the cargo unit is a container, it is not loaded to more than the maximum gross weight indicated on the Safety Approval Plate attached to the container in accordance with the Safe Containers Convention.

 

(3)Every owner or master who contravenes subregulation (1) commits an offence.

 

(4)Every shipper or forwarder who contravenes subregulation (2) commits an offence.