HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 19/10

Adopted 26 March 1998 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

APPLICATION BY THE BALTIC SEA STATES OF GUIDELINES FOR HOLDING TANKS/OILY WATER SEPARATING OR FILTERING EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPS OF LESS THAN 400 TONS GROSS TONNAGE  *)

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING  Regulation 4 of Annex IV of the 1974 Helsinki Convention concerning the application of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78) for ships trading in the Baltic Sea Area,

RECALLING ALSO  Paragraph (2)(b), (3)(b) and (4)(b) of Regulation 10 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 concerning methods for the prevention of oil pollution from machinery spaces of ships of less than 400 gross tonnage,

NOTING  Paragraph (3)(b) of Regulation 16 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 concerning obligation of the Administration to ensure that ships of less than 400 gross tonnage for machinery spaces are equipped, as far as practicable, to retain on board oil or oily mixture or discharge them in accordance with the requirements of Paragraph (1)(b) of Regulation 9 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78,

RECOGNIZING  the need for supplementary guidelines to the above mentioned MARPOL Regulations in order to achieve uniform provisions for the Prevention of Pollution of the Baltic Sea Area by oil from machinery spaces of ships of less than 400 gross tonnage,

RECOGNIZING ALSO  the need to avoid the retention of oil or oily mixtures in machinery space bilges due to the risk of polluting the sea during bilge pumping,

REALIZING  that the presence of oil or oily mixtures in machinery spaces bilges would add fuel to an engine room fire,

RECOMMENDS  that the Governments of the Contracting Parties shall apply the attached Guidelines for the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil from machinery spaces of ships of less than 400 gross tonnage,

REQUESTS  the Governments of the Contracting Parties to implement the Guidelines as soon as possible and not later than 1 January 2002 for both new and existing ships of less than 400 gross tonnage,

REQUESTS ALSO the Governments of the Contracting Parties to report on the implementation of this Recommendation in accordance with the reporting format on the implementation of the Baltic Strategy for Port Reception Facilities for Ship-generated Wastes and Associated Issues.

*)       Applicable to all ships referred to in Regulation 16(3)(b) of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78

ATTACHMENT 

Guidelines for the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil from machinery spaces of ships of less than 400 gross tonnage

1.       Such ships should be fitted with approved oily-water separating or oil-filtering equipment and sufficient tank capacity for oily residues, which enable the ship to comply with Paragraph (3)(b) of Regulation 10 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78; or

2.       Such ships should be equipped with holding tank/tanks to retain generated oily bilge water and other generated oily residues on board for subsequent discharge to reception facilities, which enable the ship to comply with Paragraph (4)(b) of Regulation 10 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78;

3.       Tanks required by paragraphs 1. and 2. above should be equipped with pumping facilities and standard discharge connection to enable pipes/hoses of reception facilities to be connected. *)

The tank/tanks should have adequate capacity taking into account the type and condition of the ship, trading pattern, time at sea, etc.;

4.       For ships of less than 24 meters in length the Administration may allow other arrangements than stated in paragraphs 1.-3. above.