Revised MARPOL requirements for oil residue (sludge) piping arrangements

16 September 2016  |  C16024

The IMO has adopted amendments to Regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex I, which will enter into force on January 01, 2017.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners / Managers / Operators  |  Surveyors  |  Flag Administrations

The amendments mean that oil residue (sludge) tanks must have no discharge connections to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank(s), tank top or oily water separators.

Oil residue (sludge) tank(s) shall be provided and:

  • shall be of adequate capacity, having regard to the type of machinery and length of voyage, to receive the oil residues (sludge) which cannot be dealt with otherwise in accordance with the requirements of IMO Resolution MEPC.266(68)
  • shall be provided with a designated pump that is capable of taking suction from the oil residue (sludge) tank(s) for disposal of oil residue (sludge) by means as described in regulation 12.2 of Annex I to MARPOL 73/78;
  • shall have no discharge connections to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank(s), tank top or oily water separators, except that:
  1. the tank(s) may be fitted with drains, with manually operated self-closing valves and arrangements for subsequent visual monitoring of the settled water, that lead to an oily bilge water holding tank or bilge well, or an alternative arrangement, provided such arrangement does not connect directly to the bilge discharge piping system; and
  2. the sludge tank discharge piping and bilge-water piping may be connected to a common piping leading to the standard discharge connection referred to in regulation 13; the connection of both systems to the possible common piping leading to the standard discharge connection referred to in regulation 13 shall not allow for the transfer of sludge to the bilge system;
  • shall not be arranged with any piping that has direct connection overboard, other than the standard discharge connection referred to in regulation 13; and
  • shall be designed and constructed so as to facilitate their cleaning and the discharge of residues to reception facilities.

Some examples of possible acceptable arrangements are provided below.

Compliant

  

Non-compliant
1

 

The above arrangement is considered acceptable:

  • Where common arrangements are provided for the discharge of bilge water and sludge through the standard discharge connection, a screw-down non-return valve must be provided to prevent the accidental discharge of sludge to the bilge system.
  • The screw-down non-return valve stops possible discharge of oil residue (sludge) to the 15 ppm Filter Unit and also the Oil Bilge Water Holding Tank.
 2

The arrangement above is not acceptable as there is a sludge discharge connection to the oily water separator, bilge system and Oily Bilge Water Holding Tank – prohibited under Regulation 12.2.2.
3

The above arrangement is considered acceptable:

  • Where there are common arrangements for discharge of bilge water and sludge through the standard discharge connection, a screw-down non-return valve is arranged in the line to the common piping leading to the standard discharge connection required by Regulation 13. To satisfy this interpretation, the common line with a screw-down non-return valve is to be arranged on the suction side of the pumps; and
  • The screw-down non-return valve stops possible discharge of oil residue (sludge) to the 15 ppm Filter Unit and also to the Oil Bilge Water Holding Tank.
 4

The arrangement above is not acceptable as there is a sludge discharge connection to the oily water separator, bilge system and Oily Bilge Water Holding Tank – prohibited by Regulation 12.2.2.
5

The above arrangement is considered acceptable:

  • Where common arrangements are provided for the discharge of bilge water and sludge through the standard discharge connection, and the sludge can also be transferred to an incinerator, screw-down non-return valves must be provided to prevent the accidental discharge of sludge to the bilge system.
  • The screw-down non-return valve stops possible discharge of oil residue (sludge) to the 15 ppm Filter Unit and also the Oil Bilge Water Holding Tank.
 6

The arrangement above is not acceptable as there is a sludge discharge connection to the oily water separator and bilge system – prohibited by Regulation 12.2.2.
7

The above arrangement is considered acceptable:

  • Where common arrangements are provided for the discharge of bilge water and sludge through the standard discharge connection, and the sludge can also be transferred to an incinerator, screw-down non-return valves must be provided to prevent the accidental discharge of sludge to the bilge system.
  • This arrangement also allows for the transfer of suitable oily bilge water to the incinerator oil residue (sludge) service tank for burning.
  • The screw-down non-return valve stops possible discharge of oil residue (sludge) to the 15 ppm Filter Unit and also the Oil Bilge Water Holding Tank.
 8

The above arrangement is not acceptable as there is a sludge discharge connection to the oily bilge water holding tank – prohibited by Regulation 12.2.2.

 

Act now

Above requirements apply to all new and existing vessels with  gross tonnage equal and above 400 GT. All ships, constructed before January 01, 2017 must be arranged to comply with the requirements no later than the first renewal IOPP survey carried out on or after January 01, 2017.

Ship owners / Managers are advised to take note of above requirements to achieve their ships’ compliance. For ships constructed before January 1, 2017 which does not comply with the requirements set above, Owners are required to propose modification and get the plans submitted and approved.

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