Marine Pollution Prevention (MARPOL) and Environmental Protection
What the exam tests
MARPOL questions test the six annexes, discharge criteria, special areas, record books and the operational controls that keep ship-generated pollution out of the sea.
Core rules
- Annex I oil, II noxious liquid substances, III harmful packaged substances, IV sewage, V garbage and VI air pollution.
- Annex I machinery-space bilge discharge requires the ship to be en route, oil content not exceeding 15 ppm, undiluted, not from cargo pump-room bilges, and not in a special area.
- Annex V prohibits plastics overboard and restricts food waste and garbage; special areas are stricter.
- Annex VI sets sulphur limits, including 0.50% global and 0.10% in emission control areas, supported by bunker delivery notes.
- The Oil Record Book, Garbage Record Book, SOPEP and approved oily-water separator are core compliance records.
Worked example
A tanker needs to discharge machinery-space bilge water outside a special area. The ship is en route, the separator is approved and the oil-content meter reads below 15 ppm. Reason: those are the Annex I conditions for machinery-space bilge discharge. The operation must be recorded in the Oil Record Book, the separator must be operating, and the discharge must stop if the alarm sounds or the ship enters a special area.
Traps
Confusing Annex I oil with Annex V garbage; discharging food waste inside a special area; treating the ORB as optional; using the 15 ppm limit for cargo residues; ignoring emission control area sulphur limits.