ER flooding - Action as CE- tell me which convention tell you u to discharge...and what is written in that... condition of discharge

Answer

In an engine-room flooding emergency, my first action is to isolate the ingress and use all available bilge and emergency pumping arrangements. Normally machinery-space bilge discharge must comply with MARPOL Annex I Regulation 15, including the 15-ppm requirement. However, if the flooding threatens the safety of the ship and normal arrangements are insufficient, MARPOL Annex I Regulation 4 permits a discharge necessary for securing the safety of the ship or saving life at sea. I must still take all reasonable precautions to minimize pollution, discharge only what is necessary, stop once the emergency is controlled, and fully record and report the incident.”

Under MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 4 (Exceptions), the prohibition on discharging oil or oily mixtures into the sea does NOT apply under the following conditions:

Condition 1: Safety of Ship & Life at Sea (Reg. 4.1)

"The discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea."

• Application: Pumping untreated bilges directly overboard using emergency bilge suctions to prevent vessel sinking or capsizing is legally protected.

Condition 2: Damage to Ship or Equipment (Reg. 4.2)

"The discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment: provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and except if the owner or the master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result."

• Application: You must take all feasible measures to minimize pollution once the immediate threat to life and ship stability is controlled (e.g., stopping emergency pumps once ingress is controlled and reverting to standard OWS transfer).

1. SOPEP / SMPEP Activation: Implement the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP).

2. Flag & Coastal State Notification: The Master must immediately report the discharge to the nearest Coastal State Authority, Flag State Administration, and Port State Control (PSC) via the coastal radio station or MRCC.

3. Oil Record Book Entry: Log the emergency discharge under Code I (Additional operational procedures and general statements) in Part I of the Oil Record Book, detailing the reason for discharge, estimated quantity, and circumstances.