Confirms oil tankers of 150 GT and above maintain ORB Part II for cargo and ballast operations under MARPOL Annex I Reg 36
Establishes that loading, internal cargo transfer, unloading, crude oil washing, ballasting of cargo/dedicated ballast tanks, and discharge of dirty ballast are each captured under the correct item code
Checks that slop tank content, decanting, and disposal of oil residues are traceable through the record
Verifies consistency between ORB Part II entries and the cargo/ballast plan or loading computer printouts for the same operations
MasterChief Officer2nd Officer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the crew operating the OWS understand the approved filtering system line-up (MEPC.107(49) or MEPC.60(33) for older units) and can operate it without prompting from a manual
Establishes that the officer can correctly identify the 15 ppm monitor, sampling point, and automatic stopping device in the actual physical system, not just on a drawing
Checks that the discharge routing (overboard vs. recirculation to holding tank) is correctly selected before the unit is started
Verifies familiarity extends to at least two engineers, not a single "OWS specialist"
Chief Engineer2nd Engineer3rd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Establishes the 15 ppm oil content monitor alarms and automatically stops overboard discharge (or diverts it) the instant the effluent exceeds 15 ppm, per MARPOL Annex I Reg 14
Confirms a documented functional test using the manufacturer's calibration/test procedure, not just a visual check, is carried out at a defined interval and after any maintenance
Checks that the automatic stopping function physically closes the overboard valve or stops the pump, and that this is proven, not just the audible/visual alarm
Verifies calibration certificates or service reports for the 15 ppm equipment are current
Chief Engineer2nd Engineer3rd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms there is no unauthorized bypass pipe, flange, or magic-pipe arrangement connecting bilge or sludge lines directly overboard, a recurring finding behind MARPOL prosecutions
Establishes that flange connections on the OWS discharge line carry intact seals or documented seal numbers logged at each renewal
Checks that the overboard discharge valve is either sealed, alarmed, or under a controlled-key regime with the key held by a responsible engineer, not left in the valve
Verifies any temporary removal of a flange or seal for maintenance is logged with reason, date, and re-sealing confirmation
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Establishes a plausibility check: sludge generation should broadly track fuel consumption and purifier operation, and any large unexplained drop in tank level must be accounted for in the ORB and landing receipts
Confirms landing (disposal) receipts from port reception facilities are retained and match the quantities recorded as landed in the ORB, per MARPOL Annex I Reg 17 record-keeping requirements
Checks the vessel's own sludge/bilge tank capacity plan is used as the basis for sounding calculations, not estimated by eye
Verifies the Master or Chief Engineer periodically reviews this reconciliation, not just at inspection time
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the incinerator carries a valid IMO Type Approval Certificate to the applicable MEPC standard and operating parameters, including combustion chamber temperature, are respected
Establishes crew understand the absolute prohibition on burning cargo residues subject to Annex I/II restrictions, PCBs, plastics, and certain garbage categories per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 16
Checks incineration is not carried out inside ports/harbours where prohibited, and that incinerator operation is logged with time, operator, and material type
Verifies flue gas/exhaust temperature monitoring and interlocks, such as no waste feed below minimum operating temperature, are functional
Chief Engineer2nd Engineer3rd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Establishes decanting is a controlled, supervised operation drawing off separated water from below a visually confirmed oil layer, not a routine unsupervised gravity drain
Confirms any decanted water that goes overboard still passes through the OWS/15 ppm monitor and is not routed around it, consistent with the discharge control intent of MARPOL Annex I Reg 15
Checks that the residual oil layer left after decanting is subsequently landed ashore or transferred to the sludge tank, and this is captured in the ORB
Verifies the operation is carried out by a responsible engineer present at the tank, not left running unattended
Chief Engineer2nd Engineer3rd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the vessel carries an approved Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (oil tankers 150 GT and above, other ships 400 GT and above) under MARPOL Annex I Reg 37, and a SMPEP under Annex II Reg 17 where NLS cargoes are carried
Establishes the response equipment locker inventory matches what is physically present, with shelf-life items such as sorbents or dispersant in date
Checks that spill drills exercise the actual notification chain, Master to Company DPA, flag State, coastal State, and P&I, not just the physical deployment of equipment
Verifies the plan's ship-specific information, such as tank capacities and contact numbers, is current and not a generic template
MasterChief OfficerChief Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms a written Garbage Management Plan is onboard per MARPOL Annex V Reg 10, covering collection, segregation, storage, processing, and disposal procedures
Establishes the Garbage Record Book captures every discharge to sea, landing ashore, or incineration event, by category, with date, position, and quantity, signed by the responsible officer
Checks the plan designates the person responsible for implementation, typically a senior officer, and reflects actual onboard practice rather than a generic template
Verifies landing receipts from port reception facilities are retained and cross-reference cleanly to the Garbage Record Book
Chief OfficerMasterall deck officers
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms placards notifying the crew of discharge restrictions are posted in conspicuous locations per MARPOL Annex V Reg 10, in a language understood by the crew
Establishes physical segregation, with separate marked bins/containers for plastics, food waste, operational waste, and cargo residues, matches the categories in the Garbage Management Plan
Checks that crew, especially ratings, can explain in their own words that discharge of all forms of plastic into the sea is absolutely prohibited under Annex V Reg 3, with no exceptions
Verifies galley and mess room practices don't casually route food waste containing plastic packaging into the food-waste stream
all crewChief OfficerBosun
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the Sewage Treatment Plant holds a valid Type Approval Certificate to the applicable IMO effluent standard and is operated within its approved parameters
Establishes crew understand MARPOL Annex IV discharge criteria: untreated sewage only beyond 12 nm at a moderate rate while proceeding at not less than 4 knots, comminuted/disinfected sewage beyond 3 nm, or treated effluent from an approved plant with no distance restriction
Checks that the plant's operating log, including aeration and chlorination/disinfection dosing, is maintained and consistent with actual discharge events
Verifies the standard discharge connection is fitted for pump-out to shore/barge facilities where required
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerChief Officer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms an approved Ballast Water Management Plan is onboard per BWM Convention Reg B-1, specific to the vessel's ballast system arrangement
Establishes the Ballast Water Record Book captures every uptake, internal transfer, treatment, and discharge event with date, position, and volume, per Reg B-2
Checks consistency between the record book and the treatment system's own electronic data log
Verifies the plan reflects the vessel's actual compliance method, exchange or treatment, and implementation schedule date
Chief Officer2nd OfficerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the D-2 treatment system, whether UV, electrochlorination, or filtration, is operated per its Ballast Water Management System Certificate and manufacturer's operating manual to achieve the D-2 performance standard
Establishes that any bypass line is alarmed, sealed, or otherwise controlled so it cannot be used to discharge unmanaged ballast water without record and justification
Checks crew can correctly interpret system fault alarms, such as low UV intensity or TRO dosing failure, and know the corrective action rather than just how to silence the alarm
Verifies bypass events, if any, are logged in the Ballast Water Record Book with the reason, consistent with Reg B-2 exception reporting
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerETO
What the Inspector Expects
Establishes crew understand the hierarchy of contingency options when the treatment system is unavailable: delaying discharge, exchanging in an alternative approved area/method, retaining ballast onboard, or seeking Port State guidance
Confirms the vessel does not treat "treatment system inoperative" as a default reason to discharge unmanaged ballast water without exception reporting
Checks that any contingency measure taken is reported to the next Port State and logged with full justification in the Ballast Water Record Book
Verifies the Ballast Water Management Plan itself contains a contingency procedure section, not left to ad hoc decision-making
MasterChief OfficerChief Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms a written changeover procedure exists specifying when to begin the changeover relative to the ECA boundary, allowing sufficient time for fuel system flushing, per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 14
Establishes the log records date, time, position, and tank(s) in use before and after the changeover
Checks that tank sounding/consumption records corroborate the claimed changeover, not just a log entry
Verifies procedures address changeover on both entry and exit, and cover contingency for fuel system compatibility issues, such as viscosity or temperature, during the switch
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms Bunker Delivery Notes are retained onboard for at least three years after delivery and contain the required particulars, including supplier, quantity, and sulphur content declaration, per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 18
Establishes a representative MARPOL sample is drawn at the manifold during each bunkering, sealed, and signed by supplier and ship's representative, retained until the fuel is substantially consumed with a minimum of 12 months
Checks the sample seal number, date, and vessel/bunker details on the sample label match the corresponding BDN
Verifies the samples are stored in a manner protecting them from tampering or degradation, in a dedicated, accessible locker
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the vessel holds evidence of using fuel oil within the global sulphur cap, or the tighter ECA limit, per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 14, or an approved equivalent means such as a scrubber
Establishes crew know the Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report process: notifying flag State and next port State when compliant fuel genuinely could not be obtained, and retaining evidence of the effort made to source it
Checks that fuel changeover and blending records support the sulphur content actually being burned, not just what was declared on the BDN
Verifies any period of non-compliant fuel use is bounded, documented, and reported, not an ongoing unaddressed condition
Chief EngineerMaster
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the EGCS is operated within its approved parameters per the vessel's EGCS operating manual and IMO guidelines, as an approved sulphur-equivalent means under Annex VI Reg 4
Establishes continuous monitoring records for washwater pH, PAH, and turbidity are logged and any exceedance is recorded with the corrective action taken
Checks washwater discharge complies with the applicable discharge criteria, and that open-loop discharge is not occurring in ports/areas where it's restricted or banned
Verifies residues from closed-loop or hybrid operation are landed ashore and tracked, similar in principle to sludge disposal
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerETO
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms every marine diesel engine above the applicable output threshold installed on or after the applicable date holds an Engine International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate and associated NOx Technical File per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 13
Establishes that critical components and running parameters match the settings specified in the Technical File, the parameter-check method of compliance
Checks that any major overhaul or component replacement affecting NOx emissions has been recorded in the engine's onboard NOx parameter record
Verifies the applicable NOx Tier is correctly identified for the engine's build date and, if operating in a NOx ECA, that Tier III compliance measures are functioning
Chief Engineer2nd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms an ODS record book is maintained per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 12 wherever rechargeable systems containing ozone-depleting substances are fitted, such as refrigeration and air conditioning plants
Establishes that every recharge, discharge, or deliberate/accidental release is logged with quantity and system identified
Checks that new installations containing prohibited ozone-depleting substances are not fitted, consistent with the Annex VI phase-out schedule
Verifies refrigerant type onboard is cross-checked against what's declared in the record book and any relevant equipment nameplates
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerETO
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms senior officers understand the Carbon Intensity Indicator concept, an annual operational rating from A through E, and how it's derived from fuel consumption and distance sailed, per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 28
Establishes the ship-specific SEEMP Part III contains an implementation plan, monitoring methodology, and self-evaluation procedure, and that officers can locate and explain it rather than treat it as an office-only document
Checks that a corrective action plan exists and is actually being applied for any vessel rated D for three consecutive years or E in a single year
Verifies fuel consumption data reporting feeding into the CII calculation is accurate and consistent with the engine log and bunker records
MasterChief Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the vessel holds an approved EEXI Technical File and International Energy Efficiency Certificate reflecting the verified attained EEXI at or below the required value, per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 23
Establishes that where compliance relies on an Engine Power Limitation or Shaft Power Limitation, the physical limitation, whether sealed, alarmed, or software-locked, matches what's certified
Checks that any override of a power limitation device is logged, since overrides beyond the permitted safety exception could invalidate compliance
Verifies officers understand the difference between EEXI, a one-time design compliance value, and CII, an ongoing operational rating
Chief EngineerMaster2nd Engineer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms crude oil tankers hold an approved VOC Management Plan per MARPOL Annex VI Reg 15, describing the ship's venting system, procedures for minimizing VOC emissions during loading, ballasting, and tank cleaning, and a designated responsible officer
Establishes the plan is followed in practice, with loading rates matched to venting capacity and vapour balancing/return lines connected where the terminal requires it
Checks that officers can explain the plan's procedures without reading verbatim from the document, evidencing real familiarization
Verifies the plan is ship-specific, reflecting tank arrangement and PV valve settings, rather than a generic company template
MasterChief Officer2nd Officer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the vessel holds a valid International Anti-fouling System Certificate under the AFS Convention, or the required Declaration on Anti-fouling System for smaller vessels
Establishes the certificate/declaration correctly identifies the coating system and application date, and confirms it is free of prohibited organotin compounds acting as a biocide
Checks that any hull coating touch-up or recoating since the certificate was issued is consistent with the certified system, or has triggered re-certification
Verifies the underlying paint manufacturer's technical data sheet/supply record supports the declared coating type
MasterChief Officer
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms vapour emission control operations, such as vapour return line connection and controlled venting, are followed where the terminal requires vapour recovery, consistent with the ship's VOC Management Plan and MARPOL Annex VI Reg 15
Establishes all deck scuppers are physically plugged and drip trays/save-alls are fitted under manifold connections and other potential spill points before cargo or bunker transfer begins, per ISGOTT good practice and the vessel's SOPEP procedures
Checks that plugs and save-alls remain in place for the full duration of the operation, not just at the pre-transfer checklist stage
Verifies save-all drainage is checked and any accumulated liquid is pumped to a holding tank, not allowed to overflow
Chief Officer2nd OfficerPumpman
What the Inspector Expects
Establishes routine monitoring of stern tube lubricating oil level/consumption trends to detect seal leakage before it becomes a discharge, supporting the general discharge prohibition in MARPOL Annex I Reg 15
Confirms hydraulic systems with oil-to-sea interfaces, such as steering gear and deck machinery, are checked for leaks as part of routine planned maintenance rounds
Checks whether the vessel uses an environmentally acceptable lubricant in oil-to-sea interfaces where trading in jurisdictions requiring it, and that this is documented
Verifies any detected leak is reported as a defect, tracked to repair, and any accidental discharge quantity is estimated and reported per the SOPEP notification procedure
Chief Engineer2nd EngineerBosun
What the Inspector Expects
Confirms the vessel carries a Procedures and Arrangements Manual approved for its cargo tank/piping configuration per MARPOL Annex II Reg 14, listing the specific stripping quantities and prewash requirements for each noxious liquid substance category
Establishes crew correctly apply Category X, Y, or Z prewash requirements based on the cargo just discharged and the next intended cargo or discharge area
Checks that prewash operations, where required, are recorded in the Cargo Record Book with method, quantity, and discharge location/rate consistent with the category
Verifies tank stripping efficiency was demonstrated to meet the manual's specified maximum residue quantities before departure