Guidance: Marine pollution (MARPOL) annex II surveyors

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) Annex II, Regulation 16 requires the government of each party within the Convention to appoint or authorise surveyors for the purposes of exercising control procedures developed by the International Maritime Organisation. The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution from Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2018 (Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 2018/68, as amended by S.I. 2020/496 and S.I. 2021/818) implements Annex II of MARPOL.

A MARPOL surveyor will only attend if required by a ship owner or his agent. The duties of a MARPOL surveyor are briefly:

To attend the completion of the unloading of all category X substances and verify that the pre-wash has been conducted.

To attend where the unloading of category Y and Z substances cannot be carried out in accordance with the ship’s procedures and arrangements manual.

To attend vessels, such as “offshore supply vessels,” and verify that cargo tanks which have contained noxious liquid substances of pollution category X, Y or Z have been cleaned and the residues and washings have been put ashore to port waste reception facilities in accordance with the procedures and arrangements manual.

To exempt ships in accordance with Regulation 13.4 of MARPOL ANNEX II, exemption for a “pre-wash”, as required. If the pre-wash requirements cannot be met at the discharge port, but will be carried out at the next port, it is to confirmed in writing that a reception facility at the other port is available and is adequate for such purpose.

To endorse each ship’s Cargo NLS record book accordingly.

To provide prompt and accurate returns, using the returns form and including nil returns, every six months.