Emergency, Damage Control, Pollution Prevention and Environmental Response
This domain tests drill knowledge, damage control and the pollution regime, including the reporting and recording duties of the engineer.
Preparedness
SOLAS drills include abandon ship, fire, collision, grounding, oil spill and enclosed space rescue. The SOPEP lists coastal state contacts; the Oil Record Book and the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan must be current. Damage control means establishing the flooding boundary, using bilge pumping and watertight doors, and using a collision mat where appropriate.
Pollution response
MARPOL Annex I requires a 15 ppm separator with alarm and automatic stopping device, an ODME and proper oil residue handling. Annex IV covers sewage, Annex V garbage with a record book and placards, Annex VI a 0.50% m/m sulphur limit outside ECAs and 0.10% inside, plus NOx tier limits.
Worked example
A bilge line leaks about 20 litres into the bilge. Under SOPEP this is an internal spill contained on board: record it, clean up, and assess whether the quantity must be reported to the coastal state. The reasoning: reporting thresholds depend on operation and location, and when in doubt, report. Nothing goes overboard through the separator unless the 15 ppm monitor permits it.
Traps
Using dispersants without approval; discharging treated bilge in port or in a special area; assuming a small spill need not be recorded; forgetting to update the Oil Record Book after a transfer.