Sludge requirements enter into force next year

IMO MEPC 68 adopted Resolution MEPC.266(68) regarding amendments to MARPOL Annex I Regulation 12 with respect to oil residues (sludge) which enters into force on January 1st, 2017.

Specifically, the amendments require the sludge piping of ships 400 gross tons and above constructed before 01 January 2017 to be arranged to comply with paragraph 3.3 of the revised MARPOL Regulation I/12 not later than the first renewal survey on or after 01 January 2017.

Sludge may be disposed of directly from the oil residue (sludge) tank(s) to reception facilities through the standard discharge connection referred to in MARPOL Regulation I/13, or to any other approved means of disposal of oil residue (sludge), such as an incinerator, an auxiliary boiler suitable for burning oil residues (sludge), or other acceptable means, which shall be annotated in item 3.2 of the Supplement to International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate Form A or B

A Unified Interpretation (UI) to address new MARPOL Regulation I/12.3.3 is expected to be approved during the 70th meeting of the MEPC (MEPC 70), scheduled for 24-28 October 2016. The UI, when approved, will provide as acceptable the use of a screw-down non-return valve in lines connecting to common piping leading to the standard discharge connection required by MARPOL Regulation I/13, for the prevention of sludge being transferred or discharged to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank(s), tank top, or oily water separator.

The MEP Circular 266(68) may be downloaded at,

http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/pdf/msin1537anx1.pdf