MARPOL

Question 1

What is MARPOL?

Answer 1

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships:

Is an internationally agreed upon set of regulations, designed to minimise pollution of the Marine Environment from international maritime activity.

Question 2

What are the Annexes to MARPOL?

Answer 2

Annex 1: Regulations for the prevention of Pollution by Oil

Annex 2: Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances Carried in Bulk

Annex 3: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form

Annex IV: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

Annex V: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Garbage from Ships

Annex VI: Regulations for the prevention of Pollution of Air from Ships

Question 3

When did MARPOL come about and why?

Answer 3

Two treaties Adopted in 1973 and 1978 respectively

Following the Torrey Canyon in Cornwall incident of 1967

Question 4

Who does it apply to?

Answer 4

All vessels except for warships and those owned by the state

Question 5

How often shall MARPOL certificates be revalidated?

Answer 5

Every five years, subject to annual inspection

Except that an IEEC is valid for the Life of the vessel, provided it does not undergo any major conversion of flag change

Question 6

Define a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)

Answer 6

A Unique Maritime Environment that may be vulnerable to damage from International Maritime Activities

Not mutually exclusive criteria to Special Areas, Can be found within one another

Question 7

Define Emission Control Areas (ECA)

Answer 7

Areas with stricter controls established to minimise airborne emissions from ships as defined by Annex VI.

Specifically relating to SOx, NOx, and VOC’s

Question 8

What are the current Emission Control Areas around the globe?

Answer 8

North America

North American Caribbean

North Sea

Baltic Sea

Med is voluntary and will be one by 2025

Question 9

What are the four criteria of a special area?

Answer 9

Environmentally sensitive
Lack of water movement
High traffic area
Dense Population

Question 10

What is the acceptable Sulphur content in fuel, inside and outside a special area?

Answer 10

Inside: 0.1%

Outside: 0.5%

Question 11

Annex 1: ships over 400gt must carry

Answer 11

Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (OPPC)
Oil Record Book
Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)

Question 12

Discharges for Oil outside special area, and Inside:

Answer 12

The ship must be proceeding en route

Oily Mixture is processed through an OWS

Content of effluent does not exceed 15ppm

INSIDE
Same, but with an automatic shut off should it exceed 15ppm

Question 13

Special Areas for Annex 1: Oil
8 items

Answer 13

Antarctic region
Southern South African Waters
NW Europe
The Gulfs (Aden etc)
Black Sea
Red Sea
Baltic Sea
Med Sea

Question 14

Special Areas for Annex IV: Sewage
1 items

Answer 14

Baltic Sea

Question 15

Special Areas for Annex V: Garbage
8 items

Answer 15

Antarctic region
Wider Caribbean
Gulfs
North Sea
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
Red Sea
Med Sea

Question 16

Who does Annex IV apply to?

Answer 16

All vessels ≥400gt,
OR
<400gt, licensed to carry more than 15 pax

Question 17

Certificates carried under Annex IV:

Answer 17

International Sewage Pollution Prevention certificate (ISPPC)
Sewage treatment plant type approval certificate

Question 18

Discharge requirements for annex IV: Sewage
Outside and Inside Special Area

Answer 18

Outside:
Proceeding on a voyage >4kts
>12m from land, untreated, rate approved by administration
<12m, >3m, Comminuted and disinfected

Inside:
>12m from land, comminuted and disinfected

Additionally, effluent shall not be visible

Question 19

Certificates to be carried under Annex V: Garbage

Answer 19

Vessel >20m, garbage placard

Vessel >100gt, and >15 pax, GMP

Vessel >100gt, and >15 pax, GRB

Question 20

Discharging under Annex V: Garbage
Outside Special Area

Answer 20

Outside Special Area
At >3nm, Food waste, comminuted or ground
At >12nm, Food waste, not ground

Cleaning agents
Carcasses of animals that have died
Cargo residues >12nm

Question 21

Discharging under Annex V: Garbage
Inside Special Area

Answer 21

Inside Special Area
At >12nm, Food waste comminuted or ground
Cleaning agents and additives (external)

Question 22

Documents to be carried under Annex VI: Air

Answer 22

≥400gt,
International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (IAPPC)
ODS Record Book

Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)
This allows for the issuing of:
International Energy Efficiency Certificate

Question 23

What does a SOPEP plan consist of?

Answer 23

The procedure to be followed by the Master in reporting oil pollution incident

Contact list of authorities and persons

Immediate oil spill control actions

Detailed list of contents of SOPEP kit

Question 24

What is contained in a GMP?

Answer 24

Plan for the crew to follow

Procedures to storage, collecting, disposing of garbage and use of equipment on board

Designate the person responsible for Garbage on board ship

Based on guidelines developed by the organisation, and in the working language of the crew

Question 25

What will a GRB detail?

Answer 25

Each discharge operation

At shore or at sea

Amount estimated in cubic meters

Signed by the responsible officer and master

Question 26

What is in a ORB?

Question 27

Spill of diesel during bunkers, Actions

Answer 27

Inform master
Raise alarm

Determine whether anything has gone into the sea:

Begin SOPEP procedures
Inform PORT STATE
Consider launching RB for deploying a boom
Alert vessels in the vicinity
Log events