2.4. Oil pollution and other items

Question 1

Name Annex 1-7 of MARPOL

Answer 1

Annexes: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by:
I. Oil.
II. Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk.
III. Harmful Substances in Packaged Form.
IV. Sewage from Ships.
V. Garbage from Ships
VI. Air Pollution from Ships.
VII. Ballast Water
VIII. BCH Code & Annex II Amendments

Question 2

Name the 10 MARPOL Annex 1 Special Areas:

Answer 2

1. Mediterranean Sea
2. Baltic Sea
3. Black Sea
4. Red Sea
5. Gulfs Area (NW of Rhumb Line between Ras al Hadd and Husn Marad.)
6. Gulf of Aden
7. Antarctic Area (S of 60º South)
8. NW European waters
9. Oman Area of Arabian Sea
10. S South African Water

Question 3

(a) Describe actions and statutory obligations to be taken after accidental or deliberate pollution by oil or other noxious substances

Answer 3

MARPOL deals with pollution by oil, noxious liquid substances or harmful substances in packaged form such as from containers, barges or tanks.

Under Protocol I reports are mandatory when an incident involves:
a) a discharge or probable discharge above the
permitted level of oil or noxious liquids for
whatever reason including for emergencies
b) a discharge or probable discharge of harmful
substances in packaged form.
c) damage, failure or breakdown of a ship of more
than 15 metres in length which:
i) affects the safety of the ship; (grounding, fire,
flooding, explosion or cargo shift.
ii) results in impairment of the safety of navigation;
(breakdown of steering or propulsion plant,
power plant or essential equipment.
d) a discharge during the operation of a ship of oil or
noxious liquid substances in excess of the quantity
or instantaneous rate permitted under the present
Convention.

Guidance as to Company requirements after a spill is available in the SMPEP Manual, as well as an up to date list of contact numbers of office personnel and Coastal State Authorities.

The master may also obtain guidance from MARPOL 73/78 with regard to when to make reports as well as the minimum contents of a report.

In US Waters – The master is to contact the National Response Centre and State Authority.
When in Port – Contact the terminal, local agent, owners and P&I Club Representative, Flag State.

Records are to include the following:
- Description of incident, time and location.
- Approximate quantity of oil spilled.
- Actions taken onboard to respond to spill.
- Assistance received and Organisations that assisted.
- Transfer from master to shore side incident commander.
- Records of all correspondence between vessel and
other parties.
- Sample of oil.

Reports are to include the following:
- Notes of Protest.
- Statements from master, crew and terminal witnesses.
- Abstracts of applicable logs.
- Copies of letters of responsibility served against the
vessel.
- Copies of claims served against the vessel.
- Copies of all reports made to Flag and Port State
Authorities.
- Photo and video evidence.
- Surveyors reports.
- P&I reports.

Information sent to the Insurer:
- Record of quantity and type of pollution.
- Oil Record Book.
- Photos and videos showing spill extent.
- Sample of spilled substances.
- Witness reports.
- Evidence of any previous spills.
- Bunker or cargo transfer procedures.
- Rates, ullages or soundings during transfer.
- Copy of terminal checklist or instructions.
- Name of crewmember in charge of operation.
- Results of inspections of equipment used during bunker
operations.
- Procedures for equipment operation.
- Reports on equipment failure which failed to control the
spill.

Response and Actions to take in Event of Oil Spill:
- Guidance should be obtained from the vessel’s SMPEP (Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan) Manual, which is a statutory requirement under MARPOL.

• Sound General Alarm, muster all personnel.
• Stop oil transfer immediately.
• Close manifold valves.
• Secure ignition sources and ready fire fighting
  equipment.
• Locate the source of the leak if applicable.
• Crew to don proper PPE and start spill containment
  operation.
• Gather sample and information for reports.
• Stow all used cleanup gear safely and land ashore at
  first opportunity.
• Compile reports, witness statements and investigation
  reports regarding equipment and spill

Question 4

(b) Describe actions to be taken when passengers or crew are injured at or in Port

Answer 4

For passengers that are injured the master must take particular care in completing the accident report forms to prevent legal action against the vessel or himself.
- Phone Medico for advice.
- Treat the casualty onboard on Medico and Ship
Captain’s Medical Guide advice.
- If casualty needs further treatment, contact port
authority and agents to arrange emergency services or
transport depending on severity. Ensure the casualty
travels with his passport.
- Before casualty is sent ashore obtain a statement if
possible, as well as witness statements.
- Safety Officer to compile an Incident/ Accident Report.
- Make relevant entries into OLB and Deck Logbook.
- Compile a report for owners and P&I.
- Take steps to ensure the accident does not recur.

Question 5

(c) Describe actions to take in case of navigational emergencies such as chart does not correspond with marks in sight, poor visibility in heavy traffic and close Waters

Answer 5

• Inform master as per standing orders.
• Inform engine room to have engines ready for
  manoeuvring.
• Post lookouts and sound appropriate sound signal if
  applicable.
• Engage hand steering.
• Slow vessel to a speed where steerage can be
  maintained.
• Run both radars at different range scales.
• Check charts for suitable anchoring positions and
  available areas of safe water in vessel vicinity.
• Make an ice/ derelict /wreck report as required by
  SOLAS.

By all accounts, navigate with extreme caution until the vessel is past the danger or until the position of the vessel has been accurately determined.

Question 6

(d) Explain the Master’s statutory obligations responsibilities as a result of a marine casualty

Answer 6

When it is practical to do so without incurring danger to his own ship and crew, the master must:
- Stand by to render assistance to the other vessel to
keep it from immediate danger or until there is no need
for further assistance.
- Exchange information with the master of the other
vessel, including ship’s name, PoR, port of departure
and destination.
- Report the collision or incident to the MAIB.
- Make an accurate entry into the OLB.

After the incident the master would be required to complete a full report on the incident, including but not limited to:
- Any actions which may have led up to the accident
being caused.
- Abstracts of all relevant log books and rough logs,
including movement books, course and engine
telegraph recorders and echo sounder printouts.
- Witness reports of all involved parties.
- The exact position of the incident as well as unaltered
charts in use at the time, as well as communications
with VTS authorities and other vessels in the vicinity.
- All photos and videos of incident.
- All officers and crew briefed to not make statements to
unauthorised parties.

Question 7

What guidance is contained within SAMSA Marine Notice 55/2020 - Reporting of oil spills and shipping casualties threatening pollution

Answer 7

Reporting of discharge and damage causing discharge or likelihood of discharge
(1) When any harmful substance has been discharged
from a ship, tanker or offshore installation the master
of such ship, tanker or offshore installation, or any
member of the crew of such ship or tanker or of the
staff employed in connection with such offshore
installation, designated by such master, shall forthwith
by the quickest means of communication available
report the fact that such discharge has taken place to
the principal officer at the port in the Republic nearest
to where such ship, tanker or offshore installation is.
(2) If, while it is within the prohibited area (E.E.Z), a ship or
a tanker sustains any damage, whether to its hull,
equipment or machinery, which causes, or creates the
likelihood of, a discharge of any harmful substance
from such ship or tanker, or having sustained such
damage, enters the prohibited area in such damaged
condition, the master of such ship or tanker, or any
member of its crew designated by the master, shall
forthwith by the quickest means of communication
available report to the principal officer at the port in
the Republic nearest to where such ship or tanker
then is the fact that such damage was sustained, the
nature and location on the ship or tanker of the
damage, the position at sea where the damage was
sustained, the name of the ship or tanker, its port of
registry, its official number, its position, its course and,
if in the Republic, its destination, the quantity and type
of harmful substances on board and, in the case of a
tanker to which the provisions of section 13 apply, the
particulars contained in the certificate.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) damage to a ship
or a tanker shall be deemed to have created the
likelihood of a discharge of a harmful substance from
such ship or tanker if it is of such a nature as to
detrimentally affect, in any degree, the ship’s or
tanker’s seaworthiness or efficient working.
(4) If the master of a ship or a tanker fails to comply with
the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) or if the master
of an offshore installation fails to comply with the
provisions of subsection (1), such master shall be guilty
of an offence.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Article 8 and Protocol І of MARPOL 73/78 establishes reporting requirements for pollution incidents. Reports should contain as much of the following information as possible:
1 - name of the person reporting the incident;
2 - telephone number (work/home) or other contact;
3 - date and time of observation;
4 - details of observation;
5 - location (e.g. latitude and longitude or the position
relative to the coastline);
6 - source and cause of pollution (e.g. name and type of
vessel, collision or grounding);
7 - type and estimated quantity of oil spilled and the
potential and probability of further pollution;
8 - weather and sea conditions;
9 - action taken or intended to respond to the incident.

REPORTING OF OIL SPILLS
1 - SAMSA,
2 - DEFF (Dep. of Environmental, Forestry and Fisheries)
3 - African Marine Solutions (Pty) Ltd AMSOL
(the managers of the standby tug “SA Amandla”)

Above are all concerned with the prevention, containment and cleaning up of oil spills at sea.

These organizations should be informed as soon as possible whenever there is an oil spill or threat of oil spill.

SANNCOB (The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is dedicated to seabird rehabilitation.

SANPARKS (South African National Parks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa’s National Parks - to develop, expand, manage and promote a system of sustainable National Parks.

The “Telephone List for Oil Spill Reporting” in the Annex, lists the relevant contact persons and their contact details for vessels operating within the South African EEZ,

The Annex to MSC-MEPC.6/Circ17 from IMO is for vessels operating outside of the EEZ

PROCEDURE
1 - Oil spills and threatened spills shall be reported immediately to the Duty Operator at SAMSA MRCC +27(0) 21 938 3300 and

2 - The nearest SAMSA Principal Officer, failing which (and in the following order)

3 - SAMSA’s Regional Managers,

4 - SAMSA’s Deputy Chief Operations Officer (COO),

5 - any of the other listed SAMSA officials,

6 - the listed DEFF officials, SANPARKS and SANCCOB or

7 - the listed managers of AMSOL.

For ships at sea, the South African coastal maritime radio stations will connect the responsible ship’s officer to the South African Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which will alert the appropriate Principal Officer.

A ship in port can report to the duty officer in the control tower of the Transnet National Ports Authority, who will forward the communication to the SAMSA Principal Officer of the port.

Alternatively, the ship, or the ship’s agent, can communicate directly with the SAMSA Principal Officer.
MN 55 of 2020 Page 2 of 11

The SAMSA official receiving the initial report will immediately place the organisation on alert by informing the responsible persons at DEFF and AMSOL.

He or she will then inform SAMSA’s Regional Manager about the incident and any action taken.

The Regional Manager will inform higher authority, as appropriate, and, if necessary, activate SAMSA’s Casualty Response Unit (CRU).

If for any reason the above procedure fails, any person in the organisations mentioned iabove should carry forward the procedure by alerting other relevant persons and organisations.

Changes to the information in the Annex should be reported in writing to SAMSA

Annex 1 - Telephone list for oil spill reporting
Annex 2 - Telephone list of environmental authorities Annex 3 - Harmful substances reporting form

Question 8

What signals could a vessel aground sound to provide additional warning of her predicament.

Answer 8

The flags or Morse signals :
“U” you are running into danger
“L” you should stop your vessel instantly.

Question 9

Due to a navigational error (a buoy out of position) you run aground and are unable to get off without assistance. What action would you take to report the incident?

Answer 9

(1) Follow the checklist from Company Emergency
Guidance Manual Immediate Actions Guide or if not
available follow the Emergency Check List procedure
in the IGS Bridge Procedures Guide;

(2) When immediate actions are complete and it has been determined that all crew is safe, The vessel is not in emirate danger and there is no pollution then start to Take the usual ‘good seamanship’ precautions
a) Display lights / shapes for vessel aground.
b) Hoist the “U” flag -You are running into Danger
c) Fog signal for restricted vis.
3xbell + Bel(5s) + 3xbell + Gong(5s)
d) Take account of all tank soundings to determine
possible hull breaches. (Especially Fuel Tanks)
e) Take bottom soundings all round,
f) check draft readings, etc.

(3) assuming there was no ingress of water, hull damage or leakages, inform the local authority and traffic control a. s. a. p. and make a situation report in compliance with local regulations; SAMSA Marine Notice 55/2020 - Reporting of oil spills and shipping casualties threatening pollution

(4) inform owners of:
i) the exact position of the ship;
ii) the part of vessel aground;
iii) weather, wind, wave height, swell, and area forecast;
iv) to what extent the vessel is aground
(in terms of displacement tonnes), and
v) degree of stresses on hull and machinery;
vi) details of any visible damage, including leakages
from tanks;
vii) whether the vessel’s main engine can be used;
viii) the state of tide when the vessel grounded;
ix) the quantity and disposition of cargo on board;
x) assessment of the possibilities of refloating by
trimming prior to the next high water;
xi) details of any salvage craft or tugs in the vicinity;

(5) as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours, report vessel to the MAIB (by the quickest means available) as being grounded, in compliance with the Accident Reporting and Investigation