Significant amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 have made it necessary to amend the Vanuatu Oil Record Book once again.

Form of Oil Record Book

 IMO Resolution MEPC.117(52), which enters into force on 1 January 2007, amends Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended by the 1978 Protocol thereto (MARPOL 73/78), and specifies that amendments be made to the Form of the Oil Record Book, which is mandated by Regulation 17 for machinery spaces and Regulation 36 for oil tanker cargo and ballast operations.

MARPOL Annex I, Chapter 3, Requirements for Machinery Spaces of All Ships, Regulation 15, Control of Discharge of Oil, prohibits the discharge of oil or oily mixtures from machinery spaces into the sea except as specifically permitted under the Regulation.

Likewise MARPOL Annex I, Chapter 4, Requirements for the Cargo Area of Oil Tankers, Regulation 34, Control of Discharge of Oil, likewise prohibits the discharge of oil or oily mixtures from the cargo area of an oil tanker into the sea except as specifically permitted under that regulation.

Regulations 15, 17, 34 and 36 are printed in their entirety in the Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOK and specify which vessels must maintain an OIL RECORD BOOK; what form it should be in; and which operations should be logged. Tankers of 150 tons gross tonnage and above, and vessels of 400 tons gross tonnage and above, other than tankers, must maintain Part I (Machinery Space Operations). Tankers of 150 tons gross tonnage and above must maintain Part II (Cargo/Ballast Operations).

A comprehensive list of items that must be recorded under Part I or Part II are also printed in the OIL RECORD BOOK. Footnotes to these lists caution masters to ensure that they obtain receipts or certificates from shore reception facilities, including barges and tank trucks, whenever they dispose of any tank washings, dirty ballast, residues, sludge or oily mixtures to shoreside facilities, including barges and tank trucks. These receipts or certificates should be kept with the OIL RECORD BOOK and are likely to aid the master prove that his ship was not involved in an alleged oil pollution incident.

Regulation 36 requires that an appropriate OIL RECORD BOOK be developed for oil tankers of less than 150 tons gross tonnage operating in accordance with Regulation 34.6 of Annex I. The Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOK is acceptable for use by such tankers flying the Vanuatu flag.

Similarly, vessels of less than 400 gt, other than oil tankers, may also use the Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOK to record machinery space oil or oily mixture transfers/operations.

Appendix III, Form of Oil Record Book, of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, is printed in the Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOK along with samples of log entries.

Vanuatu Maritime Regulations, Chapter 4, Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, Section 27, Oil Record Book, parallels but is, in fact, more strict than the requirements of MARPOL 73/78: it requires that any vessel, no matter what size, carrying oil in excess of 200 cubic meters, and unmanned vessels under tow of 150 tons gross tonnage or more, also carry Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOKS. In the case of an unmanned vessel under tow, the master of the towing vessel shall be responsible for maintaining the Vanuatu OIL RECORD BOOK. Both MARPOL and the Vanuatu Regulations require that the OIL RECORD BOOK be maintained for three years.

Any competent authority is permitted to inspect and copy appropriate sections of the OIL RECORD BOOK, which may then be used as evidence in any judicial proceeding. Failure of a master to have on board an OIL RECORD BOOK or otherwise comply with these requirements shall be an offense. Failure to comply may result in both monetary penalties and/or suspension or revocation of the master’s license. Discovery of any discrepancy in the OIL RECORD BOOK entries provides “clear grounds” for a Port State officer to carry out further investigations into the condition of the ship and its equipment.