Social Responsibility and Marine Environmental Protection
Scope
Social Responsibility and Marine Environmental Protection tests MARPOL, garbage and oil records, sewage, air emissions, ballast water, rest hours, harassment and professional conduct. The exam expects you to know the discharge rules and the record book.
Core rules
- MARPOL Annex I: oily bilge discharge through 15 ppm equipment, recorded in the Oil Record Book; no discharge in special areas.
- Annex V: food waste may be discharged over 12 nm, or over 3 nm if comminuted through 25 mm; plastics never.
- Annex VI: global sulphur limit 0.50%; 0.10% in ECAs.
- Annex IV: sewage discharge requires an approved treatment plant or the required distance and speed.
- Rest hours, non-discrimination and anti-harassment are part of social responsibility.
Worked example
A rating must dispose of comminuted food waste. The ship is 5 nm from land and outside a special area. The legal minimum is more than 3 nm, so discharge is permitted if the comminuter is working and the garbage record is completed. At 2 nm it would be prohibited.
Traps
Using a magic pipe, falsifying the ORB, and dumping plastics are criminal offences. Do not confuse the 12 nm food-waste rule with the 3 nm comminuted rule.