Part 4 – Procedures for Inspection of Unloading, Stripping and Prewashing Operations (Mainly in Unloading Ports)

 The PSCO or the surveyor authorized by the Administration exercising control in accordance with regulation 16 of MARPOL Annex II should be thoroughly acquainted with Annex II of MARPOL and the custom of the port as of relevance to cargo handling, tank washing, cleaning berths, prohibition of lighters alongside, etc.

  2.1 The documentation required for the inspection referred to in this appendix consists of:

• .1 COF or NLS Certificate;

• .2 cargo plan and shipping document;

• .3 Procedures and Arrangements (P and A) Manual; and

• .4 Cargo Record Book.

  3.1 Of relevance to the PSCO or the surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration is the following:

• .1 the intended loading and unloading programme of the ship;

• .2 whether unloading and stripping operations can be effected in accordance with the P and A Manual and if not the reason why it cannot be done;

• .3 the constraints, if any, under which the efficient stripping system operates (i.e. back pressure, ambient air temperature, malfunctioning, etc.); and

• .4 whether the ship requests an exemption from the prewashing and the discharge of residues in the unloading port.

  3.2 When tank washing is required without the use of water the PSCO or the surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration is to be informed about the tank washing procedure and disposal of residues.

  3.3 When the Cargo Record Book is not up to date, any information on prewash and residue disposal operations outstanding should be supplied.

 Terminal staff should supply information on limitations imposed upon the ship in respect of back pressure and/or reception facilities.

  5.1 On boarding and introduction to the master or responsible ship officers, the PSCO or the surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration should examine the necessary documentation.

  5.2 The documentation may be used to establish the following:

• .1 noxious liquid substances to be unloaded, their categories and stowage (cargo plan, P and A Manual);

• .2 details of efficient stripping system, if fitted (P and A Manual);

• .3 tanks which require prewashing with disposal of tank washings to reception facilities (shipping document and cargo temperature);

• .4 tanks which require prewashing with disposal of tank washings either to reception facilities or into the sea (P and A Manual, shipping document and cargo temperature);

• .5 prewash operations and/or residue disposal operations outstanding (Cargo Record Book); and

• .6 tanks which may not be washed with water due to the nature of substances involved (P and A Manual).

  5.3 In respect of the prewash operations referred to under paragraph 5.2, the following information is of relevance (P and A Manual):

• .1 pressure required for tank washing machines;

• .2 duration of one cycle of the tank washing machine and quantity of water used;

• .3 washing programmes for the substances involved;

• .4 required temperature of washing water; and

• .5 special procedures.

  5.4 The PSCO or the surveyor authorized by the Administration, in accordance with regulation 16 of MARPOL Annex II, should ascertain that unloading, stripping and/or prewash operations are carried out in conformance with the information obtained in accordance with paragraph 2 (Documentation) of this Part. If this cannot be achieved, alternative measures should be taken to ensure that the ship does not proceed to sea with more than the quantities of residue specified in regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex II, as applicable. If the residue quantities cannot be reduced by alternative measures the PSCO or the surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration should inform the port State Administration.

  5.5 Care should be taken to ensure that cargo hoses and piping systems of the terminal are not drained back to the ship.

  5.6 If a ship is exempted from certain pumping efficiency requirements under regulation 4.4 of MARPOL Annex II or requests an exemption from certain stripping or prewashing procedures under regulation 13.4 of MARPOL Annex II the conditions for such exemption set out in the said regulations should be observed. These concern:

• .1 regulations 4.2 and 4.3: the ship is constructed before 1 July 1986 and is exempted from the requirement for reducing its residue quantities to specified limits of regulation 12 (i.e. category X or Y substances 300 litres and category Z substances 900 litres). This is subject to the conditions of regulation 4.3 that whenever a cargo tank is to be washed or ballasted, a prewash is required with disposal of prewash slops to shore reception facilities. The COF or NLS Certificate should have been endorsed to the effect that the ship is solely engaged in restricted voyages;

• .2 regulation 4.4: the ship is never required to ballast its cargo tanks and tank washing is only required for repair or dry-docking. The COF or NLS Certificate should indicate the particulars of the exemption. Each cargo tank should be certified for the carriage of only one named substance;

• .3 regulation 13.4.1: cargo tanks will not be washed or ballasted prior to the next loading;

• .4 regulation 13.4.2: cargo tanks will be washed and prewash slops will be discharged to reception facilities in another port. It should be confirmed in writing that an adequate reception facility is available at that port for such purpose; and

• .5 regulation 13.4.3: the cargo residues can be removed by ventilation.

  5.7 The PSCO or the surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration must endorse the Cargo Record Book under section J whenever an exemption under regulation 13.4 referred to under paragraph 5.6 above has been granted, or whenever a tank having unloaded category X substances has been prewashed in accordance with the P and A Manual.

  5.8 Alternatively, for category X substances, regulation 13.6.1.1 of MARPOL Annex II, residual concentration should be measured by the procedures which each port State authorizes. In this case the PSCO or the surveyor authorized by the Administration must endorse in the Cargo Record Book under section K whenever the required residual concentration has been achieved.

  5.9 In addition to paragraph 5.7 above, the PSCO or the surveyor authorized by the Administration shall endorse the Cargo Record Book whenever the unloading, stripping or prewash of category Y and Z substances, in accordance with the P and A Manual, has actually been witnessed.