Maintenance and Inspection of Oil Filtering Equipment and Oil Content Meter Taking account of Port State Control Inspections. Of ships,TYPICAL TEST METHOD DURING PSC INSPECTION,MARPOL,Ship Owners, Managers, Masters and Surveyors/Inspectors, Port State Con…

Applicable to: Every Oil Tanks of 150 tons gross tonnage and above, and every other ship of 400 tons gross tonnage and above.

Effective Date: Oct 10, 2003

Superseded Circulars: None mentioned

Key Changes and Requirements

Ensure compliance with MARPOL Annex I, Regulations 9 and 16.

1.1 Maintain and inspect oily water separation, monitoring, and control equipment.
1.2 No illegal by-pass piping or other arrangements violating MARPOL.
1.3 Seal emergency bilge discharge valves in the closed position.
1.4 Maintain bilge systems according to approved plans.
1.5 No excessive oil in bilges; no interfering cleaning substances.
1.6 Maintain complete records of oil and oily waste transfer, storage, and disposal.
1.7 Maintain Oil Record Book, check consistency with other shipboard log books.

Conduct tests to confirm the proper functioning of oil filtering equipment and oil content meter.

2.1 Confirm zero ppm reading with fresh water.
2.2 Sample filtered water to confirm no visible oil content.
2.3 Examine oil filtering parts and associated piping if oil traces are found.
2.4 Confirm normal operation of oil content meter.

Consequences of Non-compliance

Immediate detention of the vessel.
Assessment of substantial fines and penalties.
Withdrawal of vessel's certificate of registry.
Fine, suspension or withdrawal of certificate of competency of the concerned ships officer.

Important Note

Regular maintenance and inspection by the crew is indispensable to prevent defects of oil filtering equipment and oil content meter.

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