Question 1

Your examiner asks: "What are the six MARPOL Annexes and what does each cover?" Give a complete answer.

Accepted Answer

Annex I: Oil (mandatory). Annex II: Noxious Liquid Substances in bulk — NLS (mandatory). Annex III: Harmful Substances in packaged form (mandatory). Annex IV: Sewage (mandatory for new ships from 2003; existing ships phased in). Annex V: Garbage (mandatory). Annex VI: Air Pollution from ships — SOx, NOx, ODS, VOC, shipboard incineration (mandatory). All six are now mandatory for parties to MARPOL 73/78. MARPOL 73/78 entered into force 2 October 1983. Originally Annexes I and II were mandatory; III-VI were optional. However, all six are now effectively mandatory as all major flag and port states have ratified all annexes. Key for OOW orals: Annex I (oil) governs the Oil Record Book Part I (machinery space operations) and Part II (cargo/ballast for tankers). Annex V (garbage) governs the Garbage Management Plan and Garbage Record Book. Annex VI (air pollution) includes ECA requirements for 0.1% sulphur fuel in Emission Control Areas (North Sea, Baltic, North American coast, US Caribbean). Candidates must know which annex covers which pollutant — examiners cross-test by describing a pollutant and asking which annex applies.

Question 2

Your vessel is 18 nautical miles offshore in a non-special area. Can you discharge food waste overboard? What about plastic? Describe the MARPOL Annex V discharge requirements.

Accepted Answer

Food waste: may be discharged at least 12nm from nearest land (comminuted/ground food waste at 3nm or more). Plastics: ZERO discharge anywhere at sea — a complete ban regardless of distance or location. Paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles: minimum 12nm from land (not in special areas). Garbage mixed with other substances having different discharge requirements must meet the stricter standard. A Garbage Management Plan and Garbage Record Book are required for vessels 100 GT+. MARPOL Annex V (revised 2013, Reg 3): the key principle is that ALL plastics are banned from any discharge at sea — this is absolute and applies everywhere. Food waste: at least 12nm from nearest land in normal areas; 3nm if comminuted/ground through a screen of no more than 25mm. Special areas (Baltic, Black Sea, Antarctic, etc.): comminuted food waste at 12nm minimum; no other food waste discharge. Dunnage, linings, packing materials: at least 25nm (if not plastic). The Garbage Management Plan (required for ships 100 GT+) must specify procedures for all garbage streams. The Garbage Record Book entries must be made for all discharges overboard and to port reception facilities. Plastic bags used for garbage storage are a common OOW catch question — they must NOT be discharged even if the contents would be allowed.

Question 3

A PSC officer asks to see your pollution prevention documentation. What certificates and plans must you produce for Annex I compliance?

Accepted Answer

For MARPOL Annex I compliance, you must produce: the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate (required for ships 400 GT+ and oil tankers 150 GT+ in international service); the Supplement to the IOPP Certificate (form A for non-tankers, form B for tankers); the Oil Record Book Part I (all ships with machinery spaces); the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP); and evidence of approved type OWS and 15 ppm monitor. MARPOL Annex I Reg 37: the IOPP Certificate is issued by the flag state or RO after survey. Valid 5 years with intermediate survey. It confirms the OWS, bilge systems, and oil content monitoring equipment comply with MARPOL. The Supplement (Form A/B) details the ship's pollution prevention equipment. SOPEP (Annex I Reg 37 and Appendix II): required for ships 400 GT+ and tankers 150 GT+. The SOPEP must list: the party responsible for reporting, reporting procedures, flag state and coastal state contacts, equipment inventory, and actions to be taken for different spill scenarios. The SOPEP must be approved by the flag state. A PSC officer finding no SOPEP on board can detain the vessel — it is a serious deficiency under the Paris MOU.