MARPOL 73/78

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ØThis is an International Convention adopted during the International Conference on Marine Pollution convened by IMO in 1973.

ØThe convention was subsequently modified by the Protocol of 1978 in another International Conference relating thereto, or, in short form, MARPOL 73/78.

ØThe administration of MARPOL 73/78 comes under the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) since its inception in 1974.  MEPC is a committee in IMO.

ØOver the years, there were various changes made, the latest being the 1997 and 1999 amendments. 

MARPOL 73/78

ØThe objective of MARPOL is to control and/or prevent pollution from ships in order to preserve the human environment in general and the marine environment in particular.

ØMARPOL 73/78 consists of a total of Five main Annexes.

ØAnnex I, IV and V concern most ships.

ØAnnex II apply mainly to specialized ships, e.g. chemical carriers, etc.

ØAnnex III is mainly applicable to those ships involved in the carriage of harmful substances as per the IMDG code such as that of the container vessels. 

Annex I (first entered into force 02.10.83)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

ØBroadly speaking, where there is oil onboard whether for operations of the ship or as cargo, the regulations in this Annex shall apply.  Unless expressly provided otherwise, this Annex shall apply to all ships.

ØThere are 4 main Chapters in this Annex, they are:

§Chapter I - General

 Certification/Duration (IOPP/5years).

 Survey - Oil tanker >150 or every other ship of >400 GT. Initial and Periodical surveys as specified by the Administration but not exceeding 5 years.

 Port State Control (PSC) Inspection.

Annex I
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

§Chapter II - Reqmts for Control of Operational Pollution

 Demarcation of Special Areas;

 Reception facilities by ports, terminals, repair yards, etc.;

 Segregated ballast tanks, dedicated clean ballast tanks and crude oil washing (COW);

 Oil discharge monitoring and control system;

 Pumping, Piping and discharge arrangements for tankers;

 Oil Record Book (Part I - Machinery Space Operations for All Ships, Part II- Cargo/Ballast Operations for Tankers)

 

Annex I
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

§Chapter III - Reqmts for minimising oil pollution from oil tankers due to side or bottom damages

 Damage assumption

 Outflow of oil

 Limitation of size and arrangement of cargo tanks

 Subdivision and stability

§Chapter IV - Prevention of oil pollution arising from an oil pollution incident

 **Regulation 26 - Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP).  This plan is to be approved by the Administration and is applicable to all ships. 

Annex II (first adopted Apr’87 and in force 13.10.90)
Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk

ØApply to all ships involved in the carrying of noxious liquid substances in bulk.

ØMainly refers to specialized vessels, e.g. chemical carriers, etc.

ØCategorization and listing of noxious substances.

ØDischarge of noxious liquid substances

ØPumping, piping and unloading arrangements

ØCargo Record Book

Annex III (first entered into force 01.07.92)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried  by Sea in Packaged Form

ØApply to all ships involved in its carriage and is more common than not applicable on, e.g. container vessels.

Ø“Harmful Substances” are those identified as Marine Pollutants specified in the IMDG Code.

Ø“Package Form” is defined as the forms of containment specified for harmful substances in the IMDG Code.

ØMarking & Labeling

ØDocumentation

ØStowage

ØPSC Inspection

Annex IV (Not in force yet as of publ. of 1997 Edt)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

ØSewage in its crude sense means drainage and all forms of wastes whether from human or animals (Livestock carrier).

ØApplicable basically to all new ships >200 GT;

Øor existing ships >200 GT, 10 years after the date of entry in force of this Annex.

ØRegulation 3 requires the vessel to have either:

Ø- A sewage treatment plant in accordance with standards developed by the Organisation;

Ø- A System to comminute and disinfect the sewage as approved by the Administration;

Annex IV (Not in force yet as of publ. of 1997 Edt)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

ØRegulation 3 (cont’d):

 - A holding tank with capacity to the satisfaction of the Administration having regards to the operations of the ship, number of persons onboard, etc.  Tanks must have means to visually indicate the amount of its contents; and

 - Ship is equipped with pipeline for discharging to reception facility.

ØRegulation 8 - Discharge of Sewage

 Comminuted & disinfected sewage can only be discharged at >4 n.m. from the nearest land, otherwise not then >12 n.m.

Annex IV (Not in force yet as of publ. of 1997 Edt)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

ØRegulation 8 - (cont’d)

 In any case, sewage shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate when the ship is en route and proceeding at >4 Knots.

ØRegulation 11 - Standard discharge connection

 This regulation provides the dimension for a standard connection to be carried onboard for the purpose of pumping the sewage to reception facility.

Annex V (enter in force 31.12.88)
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships

ØGarbage means all kind of victual, domestic and operational waste excluding fresh fish and parts thereof, generated during the normal operation of the ship.

ØThis Annex includes a demarcation of the various Special areas and also  with particular reference to North-Eastern coast of Australia.

ØRegulation 3 - Disposal of garbage outside special areas.

 - What can be discharged and the applicable distances off the nearest land are spelt out in this regulation.

ØRegulation 9 - Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record keeping.

Assignments