Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- MCA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 21 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
21 compliance obligations under this legislation — 1 can result in imprisonment.
Risk assessment 3
Determine if your ship is covered by Load Line Regulations
If you own or operate a ship you must check whether the Load Line Regulations apply to it. The rules apply to all UK‑registered ships everywhere and to any foreign ship in UK waters, unless it is a warship, a fishing vessel, a pleasure craft, a vessel that never goes to sea, or a small coasting‑trade vessel under 80 tons that meets specific conditions. If your ship is not exempt, you must ensure it complies with the Regulations.
Determine ship freeboards and apply for assignments as required
When you acquire a new vessel you must calculate its freeboard using the current Merchant Shipping Notice Schedule 3. For vessels already in service you must use the historic rules unless the ship has been built or altered to meet the new standards, in which case you can apply for a modern freeboard assignment under Schedule 4. In short, you need to make sure the correct freeboard is recorded for every ship you own or operate.
Determine the correct load line for each ship
If you own or operate a vessel, you must work out which load line applies to it for the specific zone and season you are sailing in, using the rules in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1701(M). This ensures the ship is loaded safely for that area and time of year.
Equipment and safety 1
Mark ship load lines correctly as specified
If you own or operate a vessel you must have the load‑line markings painted on the hull exactly as set out in the regulations – the right size, position and letters (S, W, WNA, T, F, TF). The depth you can load the ship to is limited by the upper edge of the appropriate line. In practice you need to check that the markings are present and meet the detailed dimensions whenever the ship is in service.
Management duties 8
Ensure assigned freeboards meet required standards
When you set a freeboard for a ship you must follow the technical rules set out in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1701(M) Schedule 2. This means checking that the freeboard you assign complies with those specific requirements, so your vessel’s load line is legal.
Maintain load‑line compliance through required surveys and approvals
You must have your ship inspected at the right times – an initial survey before it first goes to sea, a renewal survey at least every five years, and an annual survey around the anniversary of the load‑line certificate. After any survey you must not make any material changes to the hull or equipment unless the Assigning Authority gives you permission.
Maintain ship’s load line marks and do not alter them
You must keep the load line marks that have been applied to your ship clearly visible at all times, and you must not cover, remove, change, damage or erase them unless you have specific permission from the Assigning Authority. This means regularly checking the marks and keeping a record that they remain correct.
Maintain valid load line certificates and arrange extensions
You must keep your ship’s load line certificate up to date. If the certificate is about to expire and you cannot get a new one in time, you can apply for an extension of up to five months, but only if the ship has been surveyed, still complies with the regulations and the extension is signed by the Assigning Authority. After any extension, a new certificate must be issued within five years of the latest survey.
Mark load lines at the correct freeboard on each side of the ship
Unlimited fineYour ship must have its load lines painted or otherwise marked on both sides so that the vertical distance from the deck‑line to each load line matches the freeboard that applies to that load line. This ensures the vessel’s safety and compliance with load‑line rules.
Mark the ship’s load line and deck‑line as required
If your vessel has been assigned a load line (or you have an exemption certificate for special freeboards), you must paint the load line, deck‑line and load‑line mark on each side of the ship exactly as the Assigning Authority tells you. The markings must follow the detailed requirements set out in the Regulations.
Mark timber load lines correctly and observe the indicated loading depth
If you operate a vessel that carries timber, you must have the required timber load lines painted on the hull exactly as set out in the regulations. When loading timber you may not load the ship deeper than the upper edge of the relevant timber load line (summer, winter, tropical, etc.). This ensures the ship remains safe and compliant.
Provide loading and ballasting instructions for large bulk carriers
If you own a ship over 150 m long that is specially designed to carry liquids or ore in bulk, you must give the master guidance on how to load and ballast the vessel. The guidance must show the maximum stresses the ship can tolerate and explain how to load and ballast to avoid unacceptable stresses. The approved instructions must be recorded in the ship’s load‑line book.
Other requirements 4
Ensure load line marks are clearly visible and correctly applied
If you own or operate a ship, you must make sure the required load‑line marks are easy to see. The marks must be cut, welded, bonded or otherwise permanently attached depending on the hull material and painted the correct colour (white or yellow on dark backgrounds, black on light backgrounds, or red for special free‑board marks). This lets officials and crew instantly see the ship’s loading limit.
Fit correct load line mark on your vessel
If you operate a ship that falls under the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations, you must have the load line mark painted on the hull exactly as described. The mark shows a specific ring and horizontal line positioned so the distance from the ring’s centre to the deck‑line matches the ship’s summer freeboard.
Mark the Assigning Authority on the ship’s load line ring
Your vessel must show the identity of the authority that set its load line. The mark should be placed next to the load‑line ring, either above (or both above and below) the ring, and must consist of no more than four initials sized about 115 mm high by
Mark the deck‑line on each side of the ship
Unlimited fineYou must paint a 300 mm‑long, 25 mm‑wide horizontal line amidships on each side of the vessel to show the freeboard deck position. The line has to be placed where the upper surface of the deck meets the ship’s hull, unless the authority allows a practical alternative.
Offences and prohibitions 1
Alter, forge or misuse load line certificates
6 months imprisonmentIf you intentionally change a load‑line certificate, create a false one, give false information in a required survey, use a certificate to deceive, fail to surrender a certificate that must be handed in, or (in Scotland) forge a certificate, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you can be fined up to the statutory maximum (effectively unlimited) and/or be sentenced to up to six months in prison. The offence can be tried in either the magistrates' court or the Crown Court.
Record keeping 3
Correct freeboard calculations and record deck‑line details in the load line certificate
If your ship has its deck‑line marked under regulation 16(3), you must adjust the ship’s freeboard measurements to reflect any change in the deck‑line’s vertical position. You also need to state the reference point used and which deck is treated as the freeboard deck on the ship’s load‑line certificate.
Keep the prescribed record of particulars on board at all times
You must have the ship’s ‘record of particulars’ on board in the exact format set out in the relevant Merchant Shipping Notice. The record is supplied by the Assigning Authority, but it is your responsibility to keep it on the vessel continuously.
Provide and keep a stability information book on board
If you own a ship covered by the Load Line Regulations, you must supply a stability book that details the ship’s stability data. The book must stay on board at all times under the master’s control, be based on a proper inclining test, and be updated whenever the ship is altered or re‑inclined. For certain large vessels the book must also be approved by the Secretary of State or the Assigning Authority before the master receives it.
Registration and licensing 1
Obtain and keep a load line exemption certificate for exempt ships
If your vessel qualifies for an exemption under regulation 5, you must apply to the Secretary of State for the appropriate exemption certificate (International or UK). Even with an exemption the ship still has to be assigned freeboards, undergo regular surveys and follow the same load‑line rules that apply to normal certificates.
Penalties for non-compliance
3 penalties under this legislation. 1 can result in imprisonment. 3 carry an unlimited fine.
Alter, forge or misuse load line certificates
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Mark load lines at the correct freeboard on each side of the ship
Unlimited fine
Fail to comply with load line regulation 6(1)
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
37 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 21
- s.4 Application
- s.7 Assignment of freeboards
- s.8 Initial, periodical and annual surveys of the surveys referred
- s.10 Duration and extension of certificates such extension
- s.12 Issue of exemption certificates
- s.15 Marking
- s.16 Deck-line
- s.17 Load line mark
- s.18 Load lines
- s.19 Timber load lines
- s.20 Appropriate load line
- s.21 Position of load lines load line
- s.22 Method of marking
- s.23 Authorisation of removal, etc. , of appropriate marks owner and master
- s.24 Mark of Assigning Authority
- s.25 Requirements relevant to the assignment of freeboards
- s.27 Record of particulars
- s.29 Determination of freeboards
- s.31 Special position of deck-line: correction of freeboards
- s.32 Information as to stability of ships ship
- ... and 1 more duties