Maritime reporting

Business: Maritime

    Anyone in charge of a ship must monitor traffic at sea and report any accidents or incidents.

    This includes any:

    • collisions
    • breakdown
    • damage or structural failure
    • pollution

    This applies to all:

    • operators
    • charterers
    • shipping agents
    • shippers of dangerous or polluting goods
    • port authorities
    • owners of traditional ships
    • managers, masters, pilots and ships’ officers
    • fishing vessel owners and operators of skippers
    • leisure craft

    Read more on this in the below form.

    Download ‘MSN 1817 (M+F) – Notification and reporting requirements’ (PDF, 295KB)

    Consolidated European Reporting System (CERS)

    You must use CERS if your:

    • ship is over 300 gross tonnage
    • traditional ship or recreational craft is 45 metres long or more
    • vessel is carrying dangerous or polluting goods

    Report an accident

    For more information about how to report an accident, download the below form.

    Download ‘MGN 289 (M+F) – Accident reporting and investigation requirements’ (PDF, 191KB)

    Dangerous goods, pollutants and other harmful substances

    When reporting incidents that involve the likely or actual discharge of harmful substances into the sea there’s a standard format you must follow.

    Download ‘MGN 242 (M+F) – Standard Format and Procedures for Ship Reporting’ (PDF, 76KB)

    Exemptions

    Some non-seagoing ships are exempt from reporting requirements when travelling between UK ports, although some conditions must still be met.

    Download ‘MGN 405 (M+F) – CERS exemption arrangements’ (PDF, 97KB)

    Anyone in charge of a ship must monitor traffic at sea and report any accidents or incidents