MARPOL 73/78 This is an International Convention adopted during the International Conference on Marine Pollution convened by IMO in 1973.

. The convention was subsequently modified by the Protocol of 1978 in another International Conference relating thereto, or, in short form, MARPOL 73/78. The administration of MARPOL 73/78 comes under the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) since its inception in 1974. MEPC is a committee in IMO. Over the years, there were various changes made, the latest being the 1997 and 1999 amendments. MARPOL 73/78 The 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. MARPOL 73/78 consists of a total of Five main Annexes. Annex I, IV and V concern most ships. Annex II apply mainly to specialized ships, e.g. chemical carriers, etc. Annex 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 Broadly 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.

 There 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 Apr87 and in force 13.10.90) Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk Apply to all ships involved in the carrying of noxious liquid substances in bulk. Mainly refers to specialized vessels, e.g. chemical carriers, etc. Categorization and listing of noxious substances. Discharge of noxious liquid substances Pumping, piping and unloading arrangements Cargo 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 Apply to all ships involved in its carriage and is more common than not applicable on, e.g. container vessels. Harmful Substances are those identified as Marine Pollutants specified in the IMDG Code. Package Form is defined as the forms of containment specified for harmful substances in the IMDG Code. Marking & Labeling Documentation Stowage PSC Inspection Annex IV (Not in force yet as of publ. of 1997 Edt) Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships Sewage in its crude sense means drainage and all forms of wastes whether from human or animals (Livestock carrier). Applicable basically to all new ships >200 GT; or existing ships >200 GT, 10 years after the date of entry in force of this Annex. Regulation 3 requires the vessel to have either: - A sewage treatment plant in accordance with standards developed by the Organisation;

 - 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 Regulation 3 (contd): - 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. Regulation 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 Regulation 8 - (contd) 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. Regulation 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 Garbage means all kind of victual, domestic and operational waste excluding fresh fish and parts thereof, generated during the normal operation of the ship. This Annex includes a demarcation of the various Special areas and also with particular reference to North-Eastern coast of Australia. Regulation 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. Regulation 9 - Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record keeping. Assignments Find out the requirements for tanker of this size, what oil pollution preventive equipment are installed onboard, such ODM, OWS, etc.? Where are the Special Areas as specified in Annex I and Annex V? What are the distances away from nearest land can a ship disposal of its various types of garbage? What kind of Garbage Management Plan do you have on this ship? Make a copy of it for your future reference. End