Q:-The protection of the Marine environment is of utmost importance today. Discuss.
(a) How would you as a C/E of a tanker ensure protection of the environment by compliance with the various Regulation of MARPOL 73/78 Annex 1 for prevention and control of pollution at sea?
ANSWER :
Annex-I of MARPOL is applicable to all ships.
However IOPP certificate is only required for tankers with gross tonnage 150 and above and other ships of 400 GT and above.
IOPP certificate is also required for cargo ships of less than 400 GT if they carry substantial amount of oil (200 tonnes or more - trawlers, offshore supply vessels etc).
Annex-I mainly deals with two types of discharges:
discharges from machinery spaces (applicable to all ships) and
discharges from cargo or ballast spaces (applicable to oil tankers and ships belonging to third category mentioned above).
International oil pollution preventions (IOPP) certificate is issued after initial survey before the ship put in service.
Renewal surveys are required every five years and before the certificate in force have expired.
Four annual and one intermediate survey is required during the duration of the certificate.
DOCUMENTATION
Ensure that the IOPP certificate onboard is valid and complete along with their supplements (Form B) and copies of type approval certificates for equipment such as oil filtering equipment, oil content meter, ODME, oil- water interface detectors etc.
All approved manuals/documents such as SOPEP, ODME/COW/CBT must be verified onboard.
The Manuals must be in a language understood by the ship’s personnel engaged in such operations, while the SOPEP should be in a language understood by the ships Master and Officers.
The Master/Chief Engineer must confirm that no unapproved modifications have been made to the pollution prevention arrangements and equipment .
Oil Record Book Part I:
should be checked to ensure that regular entries are made regarding bunkering, discharging at sea through 15ppm equipment, disposal by incinerating, etc.
The quantities recorded as disposed should be reasonable (for ships using heavy fuel oil approximately 1% sludge is generated – rough amount can be worked out based on number of days of voyage and daily fuel consumption).
There should be regular entries in the oil record book (normally at the end of each voyage or at weekly intervals) regarding the quantity of sludge retained on board in each of the tanks specified in the IOPP Form B. Only those tanks listed in the Form B should be used as sludge/bilge holding tanks.
Where discharge to shore reception facilities is indicated, the receipt should be attached to the oil record book.
The oil record book is to be in the format recommended in the MARPOL book and should be regularly signed by both Chief Engineer & Master.
Regulation 36 - Oil Record Book, Part II - Cargo/ballast operations
(for tankers only):
There should be regular entries for cargo loading, ballast operation at port or at sea, discharge/disposal of ballast through ODME or to shore facility and COW etc.
The quantities should be correct. Verify the correctness of entries by checking records of the discharge of ballast through ODME with ODME printouts. should be regularly signed by chief officer (or person in-charge of cargo control room) and Master.
Equipment :-
15ppm oil filtering equipment:-
The 15ppm oil filtering equipment should be type approved by a national administration or a recognised authority.
Check that the type approval certificate is available onboard and relates to the equipment installed.
Check the function by operation or simulation .
Check the 15ppm equipment and associated piping for signs of corrosion / leaks, check that pressure gauges are operational and check operation of 15ppm alarm and automatic stopping device (if fitted). The manual valve should be checked to ensure that it is not seized and moves freely.
Check that the piping has not been modified and there are no connections to the overboard discharge line.
Audiovisual alarm or automatic stopping is required only for vessels over 10,000 Gross Tonnage.
Automatic stopping device is mandatory if the vessel is operating in special areas.
Check the bilge pump in running condition
Check whether any piping arrangement is fitted which bypasses the 15ppm filter and leads direct over board from bilges or from sludge tanks. Check the condition of valve and pipes for wastage/leak etc.
Check sludge tank for corrosion. Check that there is no discharge connection other than through the standard discharge connection. By taking sounding check that the remaining capacity of the sludge tank is sufficient for the voyage.
Engine Room/Pump room Bilges: Check for excessive oil/oily water mixture.
Verify that standard discharge connection is fitted and it is of correct size as per regulation. Check the condition of piping & discharge flange. Check that special tally plate and/or distinctive paint identify it.
Check that notices/placards are posted at over board discharge valve, standard discharge connection, oily bilge pump, bunkering stations etc. warning the crew of consequences of unauthorized discharges and oil spillage.
Verify correct functioning of incinerator, boiler etc (using sludge).
Oil discharge monitoring equipment is to be checked for proper operation
. Check the external condition of system & equipment. Functioning of the equipment including automatic/manual stopping of discharge and interlock for starting the pump to be verified. This may be done by simulating input values for flow rate (based on pump characteristics), ships speed, oil content etc.
The rate of instantaneous discharge should not exceed 30 liters per nautical mile. Check the associated audio-visual alarms and indicators on the control panel. Check that recording/indicating devices are working properly, check the printouts for last few weeks (records showing date, time, position etc should be retained for 3 years), verify with oil record book entries for overboard discharge, check supply of consumables (paper, ink etc).
Oil water interface detector are to calibrated and maintained periodically. Check function at random by introducing into ballast or slop tanks or a test bucket containing mixture of water/oil.
Check segregated ballast tanks (SBT) for contamination with oil (visual examination as practicable). Check SBT lines for any cross connection with cargo line, if a portable spool piece is fitted check that a non-return valve is fitted and notice is posted for restricted use. Check dedicated clean ballast tank for contamination.
An examination of the Crude Oil Washing System (COW) should be carried out and should include external examination of the system including pump, piping, valves & deck-mounted washing machines for leakage, corrosion/wastage, wear & tear. Where water washing is also fitted, check that provision for isolating steam heaters is operational during crude oil washing. Check that relief valve is fitted for COW pump. Check the operation of COW machines, if practicable during survey.
Check the effectiveness of the stripping line by hand dipping. Check the stripping line including small diameter pipe for shore connection for wastage/leakage. Check the over board discharge lines including part flow line on deck (in case of discharges situated below water line in existing tankers).
Check the function of emergency stopping device for cargo pumps from control station & pump room.
Check that arrangements to prevent spillage of oil, especially at bunkering stations, tanker manifolds, save all trays around F.O tank air pipes etc. are adequate.
(a) How would you as a C/E of a tanker ensure protection of the environment by compliance with the various Regulation of MARPOL 73/78 Annex 1 for prevention and control of pollution at sea?
ANSWER :
Annex-I of MARPOL is applicable to all ships.
However IOPP certificate is only required for tankers with gross tonnage 150 and above and other ships of 400 GT and above.
IOPP certificate is also required for cargo ships of less than 400 GT if they carry substantial amount of oil (200 tonnes or more - trawlers, offshore supply vessels etc).
Annex-I mainly deals with two types of discharges:
discharges from machinery spaces (applicable to all ships) and
discharges from cargo or ballast spaces (applicable to oil tankers and ships belonging to third category mentioned above).
International oil pollution preventions (IOPP) certificate is issued after initial survey before the ship put in service.
Renewal surveys are required every five years and before the certificate in force have expired.
Four annual and one intermediate survey is required during the duration of the certificate.
DOCUMENTATION
Ensure that the IOPP certificate onboard is valid and complete along with their supplements (Form B) and copies of type approval certificates for equipment such as oil filtering equipment, oil content meter, ODME, oil- water interface detectors etc.
All approved manuals/documents such as SOPEP, ODME/COW/CBT must be verified onboard.
The Manuals must be in a language understood by the ship’s personnel engaged in such operations, while the SOPEP should be in a language understood by the ships Master and Officers.
The Master/Chief Engineer must confirm that no unapproved modifications have been made to the pollution prevention arrangements and equipment .
Oil Record Book Part I:
should be checked to ensure that regular entries are made regarding bunkering, discharging at sea through 15ppm equipment, disposal by incinerating, etc.
The quantities recorded as disposed should be reasonable (for ships using heavy fuel oil approximately 1% sludge is generated – rough amount can be worked out based on number of days of voyage and daily fuel consumption).
There should be regular entries in the oil record book (normally at the end of each voyage or at weekly intervals) regarding the quantity of sludge retained on board in each of the tanks specified in the IOPP Form B. Only those tanks listed in the Form B should be used as sludge/bilge holding tanks.
Where discharge to shore reception facilities is indicated, the receipt should be attached to the oil record book.
The oil record book is to be in the format recommended in the MARPOL book and should be regularly signed by both Chief Engineer & Master.
Regulation 36 - Oil Record Book, Part II - Cargo/ballast operations
(for tankers only):
There should be regular entries for cargo loading, ballast operation at port or at sea, discharge/disposal of ballast through ODME or to shore facility and COW etc.
The quantities should be correct. Verify the correctness of entries by checking records of the discharge of ballast through ODME with ODME printouts. should be regularly signed by chief officer (or person in-charge of cargo control room) and Master.
Equipment :-
15ppm oil filtering equipment:-
The 15ppm oil filtering equipment should be type approved by a national administration or a recognised authority.
Check that the type approval certificate is available onboard and relates to the equipment installed.
Check the function by operation or simulation .
Check the 15ppm equipment and associated piping for signs of corrosion / leaks, check that pressure gauges are operational and check operation of 15ppm alarm and automatic stopping device (if fitted). The manual valve should be checked to ensure that it is not seized and moves freely.
Check that the piping has not been modified and there are no connections to the overboard discharge line.
Audiovisual alarm or automatic stopping is required only for vessels over 10,000 Gross Tonnage.
Automatic stopping device is mandatory if the vessel is operating in special areas.
Check the bilge pump in running condition
Check whether any piping arrangement is fitted which bypasses the 15ppm filter and leads direct over board from bilges or from sludge tanks. Check the condition of valve and pipes for wastage/leak etc.
Check sludge tank for corrosion. Check that there is no discharge connection other than through the standard discharge connection. By taking sounding check that the remaining capacity of the sludge tank is sufficient for the voyage.
Engine Room/Pump room Bilges: Check for excessive oil/oily water mixture.
Verify that standard discharge connection is fitted and it is of correct size as per regulation. Check the condition of piping & discharge flange. Check that special tally plate and/or distinctive paint identify it.
Check that notices/placards are posted at over board discharge valve, standard discharge connection, oily bilge pump, bunkering stations etc. warning the crew of consequences of unauthorized discharges and oil spillage.
Verify correct functioning of incinerator, boiler etc (using sludge).
Oil discharge monitoring equipment is to be checked for proper operation
. Check the external condition of system & equipment. Functioning of the equipment including automatic/manual stopping of discharge and interlock for starting the pump to be verified. This may be done by simulating input values for flow rate (based on pump characteristics), ships speed, oil content etc.
The rate of instantaneous discharge should not exceed 30 liters per nautical mile. Check the associated audio-visual alarms and indicators on the control panel. Check that recording/indicating devices are working properly, check the printouts for last few weeks (records showing date, time, position etc should be retained for 3 years), verify with oil record book entries for overboard discharge, check supply of consumables (paper, ink etc).
Oil water interface detector are to calibrated and maintained periodically. Check function at random by introducing into ballast or slop tanks or a test bucket containing mixture of water/oil.
Check segregated ballast tanks (SBT) for contamination with oil (visual examination as practicable). Check SBT lines for any cross connection with cargo line, if a portable spool piece is fitted check that a non-return valve is fitted and notice is posted for restricted use. Check dedicated clean ballast tank for contamination.
An examination of the Crude Oil Washing System (COW) should be carried out and should include external examination of the system including pump, piping, valves & deck-mounted washing machines for leakage, corrosion/wastage, wear & tear. Where water washing is also fitted, check that provision for isolating steam heaters is operational during crude oil washing. Check that relief valve is fitted for COW pump. Check the operation of COW machines, if practicable during survey.
Check the effectiveness of the stripping line by hand dipping. Check the stripping line including small diameter pipe for shore connection for wastage/leakage. Check the over board discharge lines including part flow line on deck (in case of discharges situated below water line in existing tankers).
Check the function of emergency stopping device for cargo pumps from control station & pump room.
Check that arrangements to prevent spillage of oil, especially at bunkering stations, tanker manifolds, save all trays around F.O tank air pipes etc. are adequate.
