Procedures For Treatment of ships waste oil and oily bilges
All modern cargo ship types are now essentially equipped with incinerators to process waste oil, bilge, and sludge generated in ships' machinery spaces and also overboard discharge arrangements under 15 ppm. However, if such onboard disposal is improper or impossible especially when ship transiting through a special area, all waste items should be taken ashore for disposal at a shore receiving facility.
The Chief Engineer should have direct responsibility for the disposal of waste oil, bilge, and sludge generated in machinery spaces. This is a critical task on board and when this is carried out, the Chief Engineer should enter the details of the work into the “Oil Record Book” (Machinery Space Operations) according to the “Procedures for Oil Record Book Entry”
The Chief Engineer need to confirm that the items mentioned in the IOPP certificate and its Supplement, tank capacity and arrangement shown in the Finished Drawings (GA and CP), the contents of the Oil Record Book, and the contents of the Bilge/Sludge Handling Note for onboard work are in total accord. He needs to understand the contents of IOPP Certificate, especially the equipment and methods for the disposal of waste oil, bilge and sludge specified in the Supplement of IOPP Certificate, Item 2, 3 and 4, in respect of
Type of oil content monitor and control unit for bilge.
Type and disposing capacity of oily-water separator (or oil filtering equipment).
Type of oil content meter (or oil content monitor)
Tank arrangement and capacity mentioned in the Supplement of IOPP certificate.
Means and capacity of oil residual (sludge) disposal.
Where “Standard Discharging Connections” are stored.
Fig: 117,100 dwt crude oil tanker STENA ARCTICA
Disposal of waste oil , bilge and sludge
Sludge is a contaminant that results from the handling, mixing, blending, and pumping of
heavy fuel while stored at, and after it leaves, the refinery. Storage tanks, heavy fuel pipelines, and barging can all contribute to the build-up of sludge. Water contamination of a
high asphaltene fuel oil can produce an emulsion during fuel handling which can contain
more than 50% water. Shipboard transfer pumps can frequently provide the necessary
energy to produce emulsified sludges during normal fuel transfers. These emulsified sludges
can cause rapid fouling and shutdown of centrifugal purifiers, clogging of strainers and
filters in the fuel oil system and rapid fouling if burned in the engine.
Onboard transfer and drain out the water of waste oil, bilge, and sludge should be carried out under the supervision of the engineer on watch after obtaining the Chief Engineer’s approval.
Overboard discharge of bilge and the like shall be carried out under the direction and the supervision of the Engineer on watch nominated by the Chief Engineer or supervised by the Chief Engineer himself on the spot.
Chief Engineer should confirm Ship’s Position from the Watch Officer.
The Chief Engineer should refer to the separate plan, the standard flow chart for the bilge, and sludge disposal suitable to the vessel’s facilities. The flow chart and piping diagrams shall be put up to suitable places, such as in the Engine control room and near the control station for bilge pumps and
Ships calling the United States shall post the following placard, “Discharge of Oil Prohibited” , in the machinery room and around the control stations for ballast and bilge pumps according to the provisions of 33CFR. Part155.450.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or oily waste into or upon the navigable waters of the United States, or the waters of the contiguous zone, or which may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United States if such discharge causes a film or discoloration of the surface of the water or causes a sludge or emulsion beneath the surface of the water.
Violators are subject to substantial civil penalties and/or criminal sanctions including fines and imprisonment.
The condition under which the overboard discharge of bilge is allowed are as follows:
The vessel is not in the special area.
The special area: The Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the “Gulfs area”, the Antarctic Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, Southern South Africa, and waters in North-West Europe (MARPOL 73/78 ANNEX-1, Regulation 1.10).
The vessel is on navigation.
Oil density before dilution is 15 ppm or under.
Type approved oily water separator is in use
When disposing of, the waste or aged lubricating oil should be incinerated after the treatment similar to that of sludge
Bilge and sludge disposal on shore
The Chief Engineer shall if it is necessary to land waste oil, bilge, or sludge for disposal to a shore facility, submit a landing request (free form) to the company, and discuss the details on the landing-place and subcontractors.
Before the landing work of such waste oil or the like, the Chief Engineer should confirm that no leakage is present on the piping for discharging, and the emergency shutdown switch (ESS) for the discharge pump (bilge or sludge pump) mounted near the shore connection functions normally.
He should station a crewmember near the shore connection who operates the emergency shutdown switch in an emergency and watches the surrounding seawater surface during the landing work. Always obtain a receipt or certificate from the responsible person of the receiving facility which includes barges and tank trucks after the disposal of the Waste oil or the like are carried out. The receipt or certificate should be written in English.
