The Cargo Record Book is required for every vessel undertaking bulk noxious liquid substances cargo and ballast operations. This is required in accordance with regulation 36 of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL73/78).

This second edition is effective from 1 January 2007 and supersedes the 1st edition (1994, 6th impression 2002, ISBN 0115513825).