UK Statutory Instrument
1987
United Kingdom
Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987
These Regulations provide for the control of carriage, loading, unloading and storage of dangerous substances in harbours and harbour areas. The Regulations are divided into 10 parts.
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
49 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 23
- Operator 11
- Applicant 3
- Trader 2
- Employee 1
- Employer 1
Plus 7 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 742 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 83 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 82 duties
- Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 1995 61 duties
Operators also bound by 124 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 21 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 20 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 12 duties
- Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 2017 10 duties
- Plant Protection Products Regulations 1107/2009 2009 9 duties
Traders also bound by 218 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 397 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 37 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 36 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 31 duties
Employees also bound by 52 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 duties
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 4 duties
Employers also bound by 169 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 196 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 98 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 46 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 45 duties
- WTR 1998 1998 36 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation
Meaning of “dangerous substance”
Meaning of “operator”
Application of these Regulations
Part II — ENTRY OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES INTO HARBOUR AREAS
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Notice of entry of dangerous substances
Harbour master’s powers of prohibition, removal and regulation relating to dangerous substances
Part III — MARKING AND NAVIGATION OF VESSELS
Flags and lights to be displayed by vessels
- Vessel master must display required flag and light when carrying dangerous substances Any Person
Vessels to keep a safe distance from moored or anchored vessels displaying the flag or light required by regulation 8
- Keep a safe distance or seek permission before approaching a moored or anchored vessel Any Person
Marking of barges
- Display hazard warning panels on barges carrying dangerous substances Operator
Control of harbour craft
- Ensure harbour craft masters are fit and competent when carrying dangerous substances Operator
Provision and use of radios
- Provide VHF radio and keep listening watch on harbour duty Employee
Anchoring and mooring of vessels
- Anchor and move vessels carrying dangerous substances only where authorised Any Person
Mobility of vessels
- Ensure vessel readiness to be moved Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Regulation 6 and 8 not to apply to certain ferry-boats
Part IV — HANDLING DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
General duties of persons handling dangerous substances
- Ensure safe handling of dangerous substances Any Person
Additional duties of employers, self-employed persons and berth operators
- Provide training, gear and records for hazardous‑substance workers Employer
Precautions to be taken against fire or explosion
- Observe fire and explosion precautions when handling dangerous substances on a berth Operator
Part V — LIQUID DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES IN BULK
Fitness of vessels
- Ensure a vessel or barge is fit for carrying liquid dangerous substances in bulk in harbours Operator
Permission for transfer between vessels
- Master must secure written permission before pipeline transfer Any Person
Certain operations on vessels forbidden without prior permission
- Vessel master must forbid hazardous operations on substances without permission Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Safety precautions for loading, unloading or transfer
Part VI — PACKAGING AND LABELLING
Freight containers
- Manage hazardous freight containers when moving goods into harbour areas Any Person
Portable tanks and receptacles
- Ensure safe handling of dangerous substances in portable tanks or receptacles entering harbour areas Operator
Labelling
- Label containers and tanks with dangerous substances clearly and durably Trader
Part VII — EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS AND UNTOWARD INCIDENTS
Preparation of emergency plans by harbour authorities
- Cooperate with the harbour authority on emergency plans Operator
Emergency arrangements at berths
- Ensure emergency arrangements at berths when handling dangerous substances Operator
Untoward incidents
- Report and respond to untoward incidents with dangerous substances in harbours
Part VIII — STORAGE OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
Storage tanks
- Ensure the storage tank and transfer of dangerous substances are safe and fire‐safe Operator
Storage of freight containers, portable tanks and receptacles containing dangerous substances
- Ensure safe storage of freight containers, portable tanks or receptacles containing dangerous substances Any Person
Parking of road vehicles carrying dangerous substances
- Provide a safe parking area for road vehicles carrying dangerous substances Operator
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of this Part
Part IX — EXPLOSIVES
Need for an explosives licence
- Obtain an explosives licence before handling explosives in a harbour area Any Person
Applications for explosives licences
- Apply for explosives licence following prescribed HSE procedure Applicant
Consideration of licence applications
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HSE must consider explosives licence applications Statutory regulator
Security of explosives
- Secure explosives in harbour areas and appoint a security officer Any Person
Vessels and vehicles loaded with explosives to be taken out of harbours and harbour areas
- Take loaded vessel or vehicle out of harbour as soon as practicable Operator
Harbour craft carrying explosives not to carry passengers
- Harbour craft master must not carry passengers with explosives Any Person
Electro-explosive devices
- Avoid bringing unsafe electro‑explosive devices to harbours Any Person
Deteriorated explosives
- Notify HSE and harbour master of deteriorated explosives and take precautions Any Person
Records relating to explosives to be kept
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Harbour authority must keep detailed records of explosives handled in the harbour Local authority
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of this Part
Part X — MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
Enforcement of these Regulations
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HSE must enforce Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations Statutory regulator
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power of a statutory harbour authority to make byelaws
Defence in proceedings for contravening these Regulations or byelaws
Power to grant exemptions from these Regulations
Repeals, revocations, modifications and savings
Schedules
The hazard warning sign to be used on a hazard...
- Use the correct hazard warning sign on containers and tanks Any Person
Hazard warning signs to be affixed to a freight container,...
- Ensure signs on freight containers, tanks or receptacles are properly marked Any Person
Hazard warning signs to be affixed to hazard warning panels...
- Hazard warning signs must have required black border Any Person
Form and colour of hazard warning panels
- Use prescribed form and colour on hazard warning panels Trader
Information about substances on a barge or tank barge
- Display hazard‑panel information when a barge carries dangerous substances Operator
Information to be shown on labels
- Provide proper labels for hazardous substances at harbour areas Any Person
Colour of hazard warning panels and labels
- Hazard panels must use the specified orange colour Any Person
At least one month before application for confirmation of the...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must advertise intention to confirm harbour byelaws Local authority
For at least one month before application for confirmation is...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Statutory harbour authority must keep byelaws available for public inspection Local authority
The Secretary of State shall not under the foregoing provisions...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult HSC before confirming a byelaw Crown / Minister / Government department
A copy of the byelaws, when confirmed, shall be printed...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Harbour authorities must publish and keep byelaws available to the public Local authority
An application for an explosives licence or for any alteration...
- Apply for an explosives licence in writing to HSE Any Person
A notice published pursuant to paragraph 2 shall state that...
- Submit comments to the Executive within 1 month of notice publication Any Person
Within the time for comment or objection the applicant shall...
- Provide requested information to the Executive Applicant
Where the applicant for a licence or amending licence is...
- Berth operator must forward licence applications to the harbour authority Applicant
Browse 26 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Each hazard warning sign shall be in the form of...
Rubber scrap and rubber shoddy, in powdered or granulated form....
Seed cakes (seed expellers) containing more than 1.5% oil and...
Wool waste, wet.
Rags, oily.
Textile waste, wet.
Seed cakes, containing not more than 1.5% oil and not...
Copra.
Cotton waste, oily.
Cotton, wet.
Fibres, animal or vegetable, burnt, wet or damp.
Fibres or fabrics, animal or vegetable, with animal or vegetable...
Fish meal (unstabilised).
Iron oxide, spent, or iron sponge, spent (obtained from coal...
Paper, treated with unsaturated oils, incompletely dried (includes carbon paper)....
Labels for compartmented tank barges
Any reference in paragraph 3 of this Schedule to a...
Specification for hazard warning panels
Form of labels
Any reference to a space number in paragraphs 5 and...
Specification for labels
In this Schedule, “byelaws” means byelaws made by a statutory...
Byelaws shall be made under the common seal of the...
The Secretary of State may confirm, with or without modifications,...
On receipt of an application, the Executive may prepare a...
After the time for comment or objection has passed the...
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.
The shape of the flag shall be as shown in...
- Display the prescribed flag shape for dangerous substances in harbour areas Any Person
The flag shall be red in colour.
- Harbour area flags must be red Any Person
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
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