Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfer) Regulations, 2015 (S.I. No. 79 of 2015).

These Regulations are made under section 4(3) of the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act. They provide rules for transfer of a cargo of oil or hazardous material from a Delivering Ship to a Lightering Ship ("Ship-to-Ship Transfer" or STS Transfer). These Regulations shall apply to all Qualified Ships engaged or to be engaged in STS Transfer in Bahamian waters. A Qualified Ship may engage in a STS Transfer operation if all requirements and conditions of these Regulations are met by the owner of the ship. A STS Transfer shall be authorised by the Port Controller. Where the Port Controller determines that an emergency exists or that an approved STS Transfer endangers persons, property or the environment or the owner of the Qualified Ship fails to comply with the applicable law, the Port Controller, may - (a) authorise a deviation from these Regulations; (b) revoke the permit issued for the specific STS Transfer: (c) order the cessation of the specific STS Transfer. Every Ship-to-Ship Transfer shall be conducted in accordance with an approved STS Operation Plan. Other provisions concern, among other things, qualification of STS providers, inspections, floating storage, reporting of incidents and compulsory insurance.