MARPOL
MARPOL 73/78 is the international convention preventing pollution from ships in the operational and accidental sense. It is structured in 6 annexes, each addressing a different pollution category:
- Annex I: Oil pollution (operational + accidental)
- Annex II: Noxious liquid chemicals in bulk
- Annex III: Harmful substances in packaged form
- Annex IV: Sewage
- Annex V: Garbage
- Annex VI: Air pollution (SOx, NOx, GHG, fuel sulphur limits, including the IMO 2020 0.5% sulphur cap)
MARPOL compliance requires onboard equipment (oily water separators, sewage treatment plants, garbage management plans), recorded operations (oil record book, garbage log), and emission monitoring. Non-compliance penalties can be severe — including detention of the vessel.
MARPOL is why a ship cannot simply discharge its waste at sea. It governs everything a vessel might release — oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage and air emissions — through six annexes, each with required equipment and record-keeping. Enforcement is real: a missing oil record book entry or an emissions breach can detain the ship and carry heavy penalties.
What is the IMO 2020 sulphur cap?
A MARPOL Annex VI rule limiting the sulphur content of marine fuel to 0.5% (from 3.5%) outside emission control areas, cutting SOx emissions from ships.
What records does MARPOL require?
Operational records such as the Oil Record Book and Garbage Record Book, plus a Garbage Management Plan and evidence of compliant equipment (oily-water separators, sewage treatment) — all subject to inspection.