The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published new official guidance aimed at surveyors working under MARPOL Annex II, the international convention concerned with preventing pollution from ships. The item, titled Guidance: Marine pollution (MARPOL) annex II surveyors, was posted by the agency on 2 November 2026.
The published guidance is described by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as material concerning surveyors appointed in relation to the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL). The document sets out the agency's approach to matters falling under Annex II and is presented as an authoritative reference for those carrying out surveys in this field.
The guidance's release comes from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is intended to support the application of the convention’s provisions within the United Kingdom’s regulatory environment. The publication date recorded by the agency is 2 November 2026, establishing the guidance as current formal advice from the regulator.
Those referenced by the guidance include surveyors who operate in the regulatory space governed by MARPOL Annex II. The agency presents the document as guidance material rather than primary legislation and positions it as a tool to assist surveyors in fulfilling their roles under the convention’s framework.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s publication does not change the text of the international convention itself but clarifies the agency’s expectations and practical considerations as they relate to surveys carried out under Annex II. The document is intended to be used alongside existing international obligations and national regulations.
Scope and purpose
The guidance addresses the role of surveyors in the context of the MARPOL framework and seeks to provide a single reference point for survey practice related to Annex II. The agency frames the publication as an explanatory resource for those appointed to carry out Annex II surveys.
The material is presented as formal guidance from the UK regulator and is dated clearly in the agency’s record. Readers are pointed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as the issuing body and to the date of publication, 2 November 2026, for the authoritative version of the text.
Implications for surveyors and industry
Surveyors operating under Annex II are expected to consult the agency’s guidance when assessing compliance with the convention in the UK context. The guidance is intended to support consistent application of Annex II requirements in practice and to provide a reference that aligns with the agency’s regulatory approach.
The agency’s publication will be the primary internal reference for those seeking to understand how Annex II surveys should be approached from the regulator’s perspective. The guidance is provided to ensure clarity for surveyors and to assist in the uniform interpretation of survey duties associated with MARPOL Annex II.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s release of this guidance is a notable administrative step, formalising the regulator’s position on survey matters related to Annex II. The document is now part of the agency’s publicly available material and is identified by its title and publication date for reference by practitioners and stakeholders.