Your vessel is proceeding from Rotterdam to New York via the English Channel. Your examiner asks about MARPOL Annex VI sulphur requirements for this voyage.

A. Global sulphur cap (since 2020): maximum 0.5% sulphur content in fuel oil globally. Within Emission Control Areas (ECAs): maximum 0.1% sulphur. The English Channel and North Sea form part of the North Sea ECA; the US coastline (200nm) is the North American ECA. On this voyage you must use 0.1% sulphur fuel (or approved scrubber equivalent) from departure Rotterdam through the English Channel, across the North Atlantic (global cap 0.5%), then switch to 0.1% again within 200nm of the North American coast. A Bunker Delivery Note and fuel oil record must be maintained.

B. The global sulphur cap is 1.5%. No ECA restrictions apply on the North Atlantic because it is international waters.

C. Sulphur limits only apply in port. At sea any sulphur content is permitted provided the vessel meets its NOx Tier II requirements.

D. The 0.1% sulphur limit applies to vessels over 10,000 GT only. Smaller vessels may use 0.5% fuel in ECAs.

A. 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.

B. MARPOL has three annexes: oil, garbage, and air pollution. Sewage and cargo residues are covered under SOLAS Chapter XII.

C. Annex I covers oil and Annex VI covers all other pollutants. The other annexes are guidance documents only.

D. MARPOL Annexes I and II are mandatory. Annexes III to VI are optional — each flag state decides which to ratify independently.

A. 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+.

B. All garbage except plastic may be discharged beyond 12nm from land. Plastic is prohibited only in special areas.

C. Food waste may be discharged anywhere at sea as it is biodegradable. Plastic may be discharged beyond 25nm from land if shredded.

D. All garbage discharge is prohibited in all areas. MARPOL Annex V requires all garbage to be retained and delivered to port reception facilities.