INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
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Telephone: 020 7735 7611
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E
IMO

Ref. T5/1.01

MEPC.1/Circ.680
27 July 2009

TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON SYSTEMS AND OPERATION TO ASSIST

DEVELOPMENT OF VOC MANAGEMENT PLANS
1
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its fifty-ninth session (13 to 17 July 2009),
approved the Guidelines for the Development of a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
Management Plan for tankers carrying crude oil (resolution MEPC.185(59)).
2
In conjunction with consideration of the guidelines, MEPC 59 agreed that additional
technical information on vapour pressure control systems and their operation would assist the
industry in development of VOC management plans. Therefore, MEPC 59 agreed to the technical
information on systems and operation to assist development of VOC management plans for tankers
carrying crude oil, as set out in the annex to this document.
3
The technical information addresses the general equipment and systems involved, their
operation and conditions on board a crude oil tanker with respect to the formation and emission of
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as well as the ability to control VOC formation and
and emissions.
4
Member Governments are invited to bring this circular to the attention of their
Administrations, relevant shipping organizations, recognized organizations, shipping companies
and other stakeholders concerned and encourage them to take it into account when applying the
Guidelines for the development of a VOC management plan for crude oil tankers.
***

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