MARPOL Annex I: Prevention of Pollution by Oil from Ships

Annex I of MARPOL - Prevention of Pollution from Ships

• Sets out regulations for preventing pollution by oil from ships to safeguard the marine environment and ensure sustainable maritime activities.

Scope and Application

• Defines the scope of Annex I and specifies the types of ships to which the regulations apply.
• Applies to various vessels, including tankers and ships carrying oil as cargo, to adhere to pollution prevention standards.

Oil Discharge Criteria and Exceptions

• Establishes stringent criteria for discharging oil into the sea, permitting discharges only in exceptional circumstances.
• Exceptional circumstances include securing the safety of the ship or saving life at sea.

Segregated Ballast Tanks

• Requires ships with segregated ballast tanks to have arrangements preventing the discharge of oil-contaminated ballast water.
• Crucial for preventing accidental pollution resulting from ballast water discharge.

Oil Record Book

• Mandates the maintenance of an Oil Record Book, documenting all oil-related activities on the ship.
• Includes details of oil discharges, cleaning of oil cargo tanks, and disposal of oily residues.
• Serves as a crucial tool for monitoring and verifying a ship's compliance with pollution prevention measures.

Reception Facilities

• Ensures that port facilities provide adequate reception facilities for the disposal of oily residues and cargo residues.
• Incentivizes proper waste management and discourages ships from discharging oil into the sea due to the availability of suitable onshore facilities.

Ships Under Construction

• Specifies construction and design standards for oil tankers, minimizing the potential for oil spills due to structural failures.
• Ensures that new vessels are built with features that enhance safety and reduce the risk of oil pollution.

Prevention of Oil Pollution Arising from Bunkering

• Outlines measures to prevent oil pollution during bunkering operations, including the use of containment systems, proper communication procedures, and adherence to safety protocols.
• Helps avoid spills and contamination during the transfer of oil between vessels or from onshore facilities.

Ballast Water Management Plan

• Requires ships to have a ballast water management plan outlining procedures to minimize the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens.
• Aims to prevent biological pollution and ecological disruptions caused by the release of ballast water in different regions.

Pumping, Piping, and Discharge Arrangements

• Sets standards for the design and construction of pumping, piping, and discharge systems, ensuring their integrity to prevent leaks or spills.
• Proper equipment and arrangements reduce the risk of oil pollution during various operations, such as cargo handling and oil transfers.

Non-Pollution Standard for Machinery Space Bilges

• Specifies standards for preventing oil pollution from machinery space bilges.
• Requires the installation of effective oil-water separation systems and sets limits on oil content in bilge water that can be discharged.

Oil Fuel Tank Protection

• Prescribes measures to prevent oil pollution from oil fuel tanks, such as the installation of protective devices like double hulls or spaces.
• Aims to minimize the risk of oil spills resulting from fuel tank breaches or failures.