Question 1

You are on watch when the engineer reports the Oily Water Separator (OWS) is running. What are your MARPOL Annex I obligations, and what must be recorded in the Oil Record Book?

Accepted Answer

Under MARPOL Annex I, bilge water may only be discharged overboard when: the vessel is more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land; the OWS is operating and the 15 ppm monitor is functioning and operating; the overboard effluent does not exceed 15 ppm oil content; the vessel is underway (not at anchor). Every bilge overboard discharge must be recorded in the Oil Record Book Part I (machinery spaces), including: date/time; ship position; quantity pumped; running time; 15 ppm monitor readings. The master must sign the ORB. The ORB must be retained for 3 years and produced to any PSC officer on request. MARPOL Annex I Regulation 15: discharge criteria outside special areas: not less than 12nm from nearest land; vessel underway; oil content less than 15 ppm; using approved OWS/15 ppm monitor. In special areas (e.g. Arctic, Antarctic, Baltic, Black Sea) — zero discharge of any oily mixture. The ORB is a legal document — falsification is a criminal offence and has resulted in large fines and imprisonment of officers in multiple jurisdictions. The OOW must understand that the 15 ppm monitor trips an automatic shut-off — if the monitor fails, discharge must stop. PSC inspectors routinely check ORBs against engine log books for consistency. A common "magic pipe" investigation starts with inconsistencies in recorded bilge volumes.

Question 2

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 3

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.