UK revised the Instructions for the guidance of surveyors on the International Load Line

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 25 April 2023 published the revised Instructions for the guidance of surveyors on the International Load Line.

This document is based on the IMO LOAD LINES 2005 CONSOLIDATED EDITION AS AMENDED and SI 2018 No. 155 The Merchant Shipping (International Load Line Convention) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.

The following arrangements are applicable:

  • Applicable to: UK ships on international voyages and Non-UK Ships on international voyages within UK waters
  • Length: Ships with a length ≥ 24 metres
  • Keel requirement: Keels laid on or after 21st July 1968

Updates for Issue 2 include the following:

  • P. 54-55 amended to align with MS001 diagrams and symbols.
  • P.87 amendments to Reg 27(13)(a) adopted at MSC 104 under Res. MSC.491(104) for entry into force on 1 January 2024. See SDC 7/16 para 12 and Annex 9 for background.
  • P.89 amendments to Unified Interpretations for Regulation 27(13)(e), and P.103, new UI for Regulation 37(3), both approved at MSC 105 under MSC.1/Circ.1535/Rev.2 on May 8, 2022.

The document also contains the IMO-approved Unified Interpretations (UI’s) contained in Part 5 of the 2005 Consolidated Edition page 203 (with subsequent updates in LL.3/Circs.162, 194 & 208).

A list of the approved IACS UI’s and other approved interpretations is shown in the table following the contents page, and they are hyperlinked to the main text for quick access.


For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):


Instructions for the guidance of surveyors on the International Load Line

MSC.491(104): Amendments to the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol)

MSC.1/Circ.1535/Rev.2: UNIFIED INTERPRETATIONS RELATING TO THE PROTOCOL OF 1988 RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON LOAD LINES, 1966