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This Marine Guidance Note (MGN) provides guidance on amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which contain provisions for qualifying unmanned, non-self-propelled Barges to be exempt from certain survey and certification requirements of Annex I (Oil) and Annex IV (Sewage) of the Convention.

The amendments to the Convention came into force on 1st November 2022 and are implemented in the UK by way of amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/42) (the 2019 Regulations) and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships) 2020 (SI 2020/620) (the 2020 Regulations). These amendments are made by the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution and Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI No. 2022/1234) (the 2022 Regulations).