MARPOL Annex I: Ship To Ship (STS) Operations
Ship to Ship (STS)operations between tankerswill become regulated with the adoption of Resolution MEPC.186(59) to amend MARPOL 78/73 Annex I and introduce a new chapter eight intended to prevent pollution during transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea.
With the regulation entering into force on 1 January 2011, any oil tanker involved in STS operations will be required to have on board an STS operations plan, approved by the Administration no later than the date of the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey under MARPOL 73/78 Annex I carried out on or after 1 January 2011 but not later than 1 April 2012.
The approved plan is to be developed taking into account information contained in the IMO Manual on Oil Pollution and the ICS and OCIMF STS Guide (Petroleum). The plan is required to prescribe how to conduct STS operations and should be written in the working language of the ship.
The person supervising STS operations should be qualified to a level that satisfies training requirements outlined in the OCIMF STS Guide. Records of all STS operations are to be noted in the oil record book and retained on board for at least three years.
Vessels subject to the regulation that plan STS operations within the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of a Party to MARPOL are required to notify the relevant coastal state
Authority at least 48 hours in advance of any STS operation. When the estimated time of arrival at the location or area for the STS operation changes by more than six hours, a revised estimated time of arrival is to be given.
These regulations donot cover;
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fuel oil bunkering operations
- oil transfer operations associated with fixed or floating platforms
- STS operations necessary for securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea or for combating specific pollution incidents in order to minimize the damage from pollution, and
- STS operations where either of the ships involved is a warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by a State and used, temporarily only on government non-commercial service.
Click here for MEPC 186(59)
Source: nepia