Maritime Safety, Risk and Environmental Protection
What this domain tests
The IMO instrument framework, structured risk assessment, and pollution prevention duties. Questions often present a scenario and ask which convention, certificate or risk control applies.
Instruments
SOLAS (construction, equipment, operation, ISM, ISPS), MARPOL Annexes I to VI (oil, noxious liquids, harmful substances, sewage, garbage, air pollution), Load Lines 1966, COLREG, STCW, MLC 2006, the Ballast Water Management Convention with its D-2 standard, the AFS Convention, and the Hong Kong Convention for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, which enters into force on 26 June 2025.
Air emissions and carbon
MARPOL Annex VI limits sulphur to 0.50% globally and 0.10% in ECAs, sets NOx Tier limits for new engines, bans deliberate ozone-depleting substance emissions, and carries EEDI, EEXI, SEEMP and CII requirements.
Risk assessment
Formal Safety Assessment: hazard identification, risk analysis, risk control options, cost-benefit assessment, decision. Practically: HAZID, HAZOP, FMEA, QRA, and a risk matrix combining likelihood and severity, with controls justified against ALARP. Emergency response includes SOPEP, drills, and enclosed-space entry procedures.
Worked example
A bunkering operation is assessed as likelihood 4 and severity 4 on a 5x5 matrix, giving a score of 16, which is high risk and unacceptable without further controls. Fitting a dry-break coupling and a high-level alarm reduces likelihood to 2, giving 8, a medium rating. Adding a pre-transfer checklist and a supervision requirement reduces severity to 3, giving 6, and the residual risk is recorded as ALARP with the justification documented in the SMS.
Traps
Confusing MARPOL Annex I with Annex II scope; assuming the sulphur limit applies equally inside and outside ECAs; treating a risk matrix score as an absolute measure rather than a prioritisation tool; forgetting that ALARP requires justification, not just a low score; quoting a convention that has not entered into force.