MARPOL Annex I - Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil from

Ships

MARPOL 73/78 Annex I

Regulations for the prevention of Pollution by Oil from ships
Entered into force on 2 October 1983
Revised Annex I entered into force 1 January 2007

**Overview:**
Waste oil generated in a ship originates from several systems, such as the sludge, slop, bilge,
and ballast water system. The input of oil to the sea from ship operations is due to illegal
and legal discharges. Generally, ship-generated oily waste can either be delivered to shore,
incinerated onboard, or legally/illegally discharged to sea.

Oil tankers transport some 1,800 million tonnes of crude oil around the world by sea,
including 50 percent of U.S. oil imports. Most oil is transported quietly and safely, aided by
measures introduced by IMO to ensure tankers are safely built and operated.

**Behavior of Oil at Sea:**

The effects of oil on marine life result from physical contamination, smothering, and toxic
chemical components. Marine life can also suffer indirect damage from clean-up operations.
Persistent residues of spilled oils and emulsions pose significant risks to marine animals,
plants, and habitats.

**Key Regulations:**

1. **Control of Operational Discharge of Oil (Machinery Spaces):**

- **Outside Special Areas:**
- Ships >400 gross tonnage must process oily mixtures through filtering equipment
ensuring oil content <15 ppm.
- Must proceed en route and meet other technical criteria.
- **In Special Areas:**
- Discharge of oily mixtures is prohibited unless conditions similar to above are met.
- Antarctic Area: Complete prohibition of oil discharge.

2. **Oil Filtering Equipment:**

- Required for ships >400 gross tonnage.
- Equipment must automatically stop discharge when oil content exceeds 15 ppm.

3. **Oil Record Book (Part I):**

- To record machinery space operations such as tank cleaning, bilge discharge, and fuel
transfer.
- Must be preserved for 3 years for inspection.

4. **Control of Operational Discharge of Oil (Cargo Areas):**

- **Outside Special Areas:**
- Discharge must meet specific conditions, including distance from land and oil discharge
limits.
- **In Special Areas:**
- Discharge from cargo areas is prohibited.

5. **Special Areas:**
- Include the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, and others. Special
discharge restrictions apply in these areas.

6. **Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP):**

- Ships >150 gross tonnage must have a plan for reporting and managing oil pollution
incidents.

7. **Reception Facilities:**
- Ports and terminals must provide facilities for receiving oily residues and bilge water.

For complete compliance, ship operators must ensure adherence to detailed technical
standards outlined in Annex I, including the use of certified equipment and maintaining
accurate records of oil-handling operations.

MARPOL Annex II – Regulations for the Control of Pollution by

Noxious Liquid Substances

MARPOL 73/78 Annex II

Regulations for the control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS)

Entered into force on 6 April 1987

Revised Annex II entered into force 1 January 2007

**Overview:**
Annex II categorizes noxious liquid substances (NLS) into Categories X, Y, Z, and Other
Substances based on their potential threat to the marine environment. These substances are
typically carried in bulk and must be handled with strict controls to prevent pollution.

**Key Regulations:**

1. **Categorization of NLS:**
- **Category X:** Substances posing a major hazard to marine resources or
human health. Discharge is prohibited.
- **Category Y:** Substances posing a hazard requiring limitations on
discharge quality and quantity.
- **Category Z:** Substances posing a minor hazard with less stringent
discharge restrictions.
- **Other Substances:** Substances evaluated as posing no harm when
discharged under certain conditions.

2. **Discharge Criteria:**
- Prohibited for Category X substances.
- Discharges for Categories Y and Z allowed under specific conditions,
including minimum distances from land and water depth.
- Antarctic area: Discharge of any NLS is strictly prohibited.

3. **Shipboard Arrangements:**
- Ships must have pumping and piping systems ensuring minimal residue
retention in tanks after unloading.
- Residue quantities must comply with standards set in Annex II.

4. **Procedures and Arrangements Manual (P&A Manual):**

- Required for ships carrying Categories X, Y, and Z substances.
- Contains detailed operational procedures for unloading, tank cleaning, and
residue discharge.

5. **Cargo Record Book (CRB):**

- Records all operations involving NLS, including loading, transfer, cleaning,
and discharge.
- Must be retained for three years and signed by responsible officers.
 6. **Marine Pollution Emergency Plan for NLS:**
- Required for ships >150 gross tonnage certified to carry NLS in bulk.
- Includes procedures for reporting pollution incidents and mitigating
environmental impact.

7. **Special Areas:**
- Antarctic area designated as a special area with stricter discharge controls.

**Amendments and Compliance:**

Annex II incorporates updates to align with changes in the International Bulk Chemical
Code (IBC Code) and includes stricter standards for categorizing and handling noxious
substances. Operators must follow approved operational procedures and ensure all
equipment and arrangements comply with regulatory standards.

MARPOL Annex III

Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances in Packaged Form

Entered into force on 1 July 1992

Revised Annex III entered into force on 1 October 2010

Overview

The regulations under Annex III were developed to identify marine pollutants and ensure
their safe transportation in packaged form. This includes provisions for packaging, marking,
labeling, documentation, and stowage to minimize the risks of accidental pollution. Marine
pollutants are identified as substances classified as harmful to the marine environment in
accordance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

Key Regulations
 1. Packaging and Labeling

Marine pollutants must be appropriately packaged and labeled to ensure safe handling and
minimize risks during transportation. Labels must clearly identify the harmful substances in
compliance with the standards set by the IMDG Code.

2. Documentation

Ships carrying harmful substances in packaged form must maintain accurate

documentation. This includes detailed cargo manifests, which specify the nature, quantity,
and location of the harmful substances on board.

3. Stowage and Handling

Harmful substances must be stowed in a manner that prevents leakage and limits the risk of
accidental pollution. Special precautions must be taken when handling these substances to
ensure the safety of the ship, crew, and marine environment.

4. Prohibition of Discharge

The jettisoning of harmful substances carried in packaged form is strictly prohibited, except
when necessary to ensure the safety of the ship or to save lives at sea. Specific measures
must also be followed to prevent leakage and contamination in the event of an accident.

International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code

The IMDG Code provides detailed guidelines for the transportation of dangerous goods by
sea, including marine pollutants. The Code specifies requirements for packaging, labeling,
stowage, and emergency response procedures. Compliance with the IMDG Code is
mandatory for all ships carrying dangerous goods.
Amendments and Enforcement

The regulations under Annex III are subject to periodic amendments to incorporate new
scientific findings and technological advancements. Enforcement is carried out through
inspections and certification to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Annex.

Annex IV – Prevention of Pollution by Sewage

Entered into force on 27 September 2003

Overview

Annex IV contains a set of regulations regarding the discharge of sewage into the sea from
ships. These regulations address the control of sewage pollution, requirements for sewage
treatment systems, and port reception facilities.

Key Regulations

1. Discharge Criteria:

• - Discharge of raw sewage is prohibited within 12 nautical miles of the

nearest land unless an approved sewage treatment plant is in operation.

• - Discharge of comminuted and disinfected sewage is allowed beyond 3

nautical miles.
 2. Shipboard Arrangements:

• - Ships must be equipped with approved sewage treatment plants or

holding tanks.

• - The treatment systems must comply with standards established by the

International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Special Areas

The Baltic Sea is designated as a special area under Annex IV with stricter discharge
requirements for passenger ships.

Compliance and Certification

Ships must carry a valid International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate (ISPPC) to
demonstrate compliance. This certificate is issued following surveys conducted by the
Administration.

Annex V – Prevention of Pollution by Garbage

Entered into force on 31 December 1988

Overview

Annex V regulates the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships. It focuses on

prohibiting the discharge of harmful garbage, particularly plastics, and ensuring proper
waste management onboard.

Key Regulations

1. Garbage Categorization:

• - Garbage is classified into plastics, food wastes, domestic wastes, cooking

oil, incinerator ashes, operational wastes, and cargo residues.

3. Discharge Restrictions:

• - Discharge of plastics is strictly prohibited.

• - Discharge of other garbage types is allowed under specific conditions,

such as distance from land and processing through onboard systems.

Special Areas

Special areas under Annex V include the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and
Antarctic Area, where stricter garbage discharge regulations apply.

Garbage Management Plan

Every ship of 100 gross tonnage or above, and ships certified to carry 15 or more persons,
must have a Garbage Management Plan. This plan outlines procedures for minimizing,
collecting, storing, processing, and disposing of garbage.

Record Keeping

Ships must maintain a Garbage Record Book to log all disposal and incineration operations.
The book must be preserved for two years after the last entry.

Prepare by Hasan Ahmed.