Oil Spills
1. Emergency Response
1.1 Report of Discovery of Oil Spills
The crew member who discovers an oil spill on the ship or from
the ship shall immediately report the fact to the officer on watch
and the chief of the work related to the oil spill in question.
The officer on watch shall immediately report about this to the
master.
1.2 Actions to Be Taken by Crew Members who
Found Oil Spills
Any crew member who found oil spills shall distribute oil
adsorbents, or any other action to be taken until the order to the
crew members to take up "Oil Pollution Prevention Stations" is
given and the on-scene leader arrives. Actions, however, for
the spilled oil on water shall be taken at the discretion of the
duty officer until the same order is given to the crew members
1.3 Emergency Measures
1.3.1 If Oil Spills Occur during Cargo Operations of
Oil Tanker
The officer on cargo watch who receives the report of an oil
spill shall immediately take the following measures:
a) If during unloading operations, immediately stop the cargo
pump and suspend the unloading operations and at the same
time notify the terminal;
b) If during loading operations, immediately contact the shore
terminal and have the sending of oil stopped;
c) Close all manifold valves;
d) If during ballasting operations, stop the ballasting work and
close the valves concerned; e) If during use of IGS, stop it;
f) Notify the Engineer on watch (on duty); and
g) When there is an oil spill on the deck, close all deck scuppers,
open surface valves, open guts, and take other steps to prevent
the oil from spilling overboard.
1.3.2 If Oil Spills Occur during Replenishing or
Transferring of Fuel Oil or
Lubricating Oil
The chief of oil replenishing work, when he receives a report of
an oil spill, shall immediately take the following measures:
a) If during replenishing of fuel oil or lubricating oil, immediately
notify the shore or barge to stop transferring oil;
b) If during the transferring of fuel oil, lubrication oil, bilge, etc,
immediately stop the work;
c) Close the valves of the relevant pipe lines; and
d) Report the chief engineer.
1.3.3 Oil Spills Because of Accident
The master, when there is an oil spill due to a marine accident,
etc, shall take the following measures as far as practicable:
a) Move the ship's position to weather side of the oil spill by
changing the ship's course; and
b) Close all openings to prevent the ingress of flammable gases
into the living quarters and engine room.
1.4 Response by Master
The master, when there is an oil spill, shall immediately take
the following measures:
1.4.1 Orders to Give Oil Pollution Response
After checking the state of the oil spill, if oil pollution
prevention work is required, issue orders to the crew to take up
"Oil Pollution Prevention Stations".
1.4.2 Grasping of Situation
Check the situation in accordance with the "Checklist (Oil
Spill)(S-112004-02CHK)".
1.4.3 Initial Notification
Immediately make the initial notifications in accordance with
Sec.5 notifications while endeavoring to prevent the spread of
the oil spill and to recover the oil.
1.4.4 Request for Oil Elimination Assistance
When shore assistance is required for the oil prevention and
eliminating work, request the assistance of the Company or the
organization instructed by the Company such as the nearest
maritime safety authorities, etc.
2. Work of Oil Pollution Prevention
Station
2.1 Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures
The master shall order the on-scene leader to carry out what is
necessary out of the following work and continue to strive to
prevent and reduce further oil spills:
Measures taken to prevent and reduce oil spills shall take
priority over the consideration of the contamination or quality
of the cargo oil.
2.1.1 Oil Spills from Pipeline
Lower the pressure of the oil in the pipe line in question, and
transfer by gravity or pump the oil remaining in the pipe line
into another tank.
2.1.2 Tank Overflow
a) Immediately transfer the oil overflowed from the tank into
another tank that has extra space.
b) When there are no tanks at all with extra space, study the
possibility of transferring the oil ashore.
2.1.3 Oil Leakage from Hull
Carry out the following measures taking into consideration that
oil will continue to flow out until the internal pressure of the oil
tank is in balance with the external pressure of the sea water at
the tear in the hull:
a) Lower the liquid level of the cargo oil tank in question by
immediately transferring the oil left in the damaged tank into
another tank with extra space;
b) When the tank with the oil leak cannot be determined, lower the
liquid level of all the tanks in the vicinity. In such a case, full
consideration shall be given to the hull strength and stability of
the ship;
c) When it can be assumed that the oil is leaking from below the
sea surface, suppress the outflow by closing the vent line and
other upper deck openings of the tank in question;
d) Bring the ship into an effective condition for preventing the
outflow of oil by adjusting the ballast and other means; and
e) On oil tankers, lower the inert gas pressure in all cargo tanks
and lines down to the minimum positive pressure.
2.2 Oil Spill Response Work
The master shall order the on-scene leader to have the following
work carried out:
2.2.1 Oil Spills Overboard
a) The ship's crew shall do what they can to control the oil
spill by employing whatever usable equipment and
material are on hand.
b) When a shore oil spill control contractor has been arranged
for, give the contractor whatever information is necessary
and also cooperate in the oil spill control work.
2.2.2 Oil Spills on Deck
Recover, dispose of and clean up the oil that has been spilled by
using equipment for oil spill response (oil adsorbents, sawdust,
straw mats, etc.) on hand on the ship.
3. Safety Check of Hull Strength and Stability
When the damage due to the accident is believed to be large
scale and such means of preventing and reducing the oil spill as
transferring cargo, adjusting ballast, etc. are carried out, the
master shall check the safety of the ship by requesting the
Company to make hull strength, stability and other calculations.
4. STS Operations
When part or all of the oil in the ship needs to be transferred to
lighters (barges) or other vessels, it shall be done in accordance
with the OCIMF/ICS Publication "Ship to Ship Transfer Guide
(Petroleum)."
5. Notification
5.1 Parties to Be Notified
a) Nearest maritime safety organization (when in
passage).
b) Harbor master and responsible person of terminal
(while in port).
c) c) Company.
d) P&I Club.
e) Other organizations as instructed by the Company.
(Reference: Supplement "List of Contact
Parties" to "Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan")
5.2 Matters to Be Notified (See S-112004-01FIG
Make the initial notification in accordance with the Table 1
Initial Notification Standard Format of "Shipboard Oil
Pollution Emergency Plan".
5.3 Continuation of Notification
After the initial notification has been sent, continue to give the
relevant parties information on the following matters from time
to time:
a) Any serious change in the ship's condition;
b) The amount of spilled oil per hour and the spread of the oil;
c) Weather and sea conditions;
d) Organizations and contractors to whom assistance has been
requested; and
e) Nature of the oil spill control work now being carried out.
5.4 Reporting Procedure in the United States
a) In US waters, if there is an oil pollution incident, or a
significant threat of such an incident the Master shall
immediately notify the Qualified Individual who shall
make all the required notifications.
b) If Master is unable to notify the QI immediately, then
he MUST make all the required notifications as per
Vessel Response Plan. All notifications shall be
logged and report numbers recorded.
c) The primary mode of communication for notifications
is voice telephone, however, for some notifications
from the vessel, e.g., to the local Coast Guard,
communications may be via radiotelephone. The
secondary mode for notifications is fax or email.
d) If a fax or email notification is made, it MUST be
followed by a telephone call to verify proper receipt of
the fax or email.
e) If notification to the NRC is by fax it MUST be
followed up by a telephone call within 15 minutes of
the fax notification.
f) The contracted OSRO to be notified within 30
minutes of the incident
g) It is Master's responsibility to confirm from the QI that
all required notifications are made.
6. Recording and Sampling
The master or the deck officer ordered by the master shall carry
out the following:
6.1 Records
Record the following details of the accident in time series and
retain the record:
a) Measures carried out by the ship;
b) Contents of communications with jurisdictional authorities, the
Company, and other relevant parties;
c) Direction of flow and extent of diffusion of oil spill;
d) Weather conditions, tide, wind direction and force, and
condition of sea surface;
e) Measures carried out by relevant shore parties;
f) Number of contractor's workers who were engaged in the oil
spill control work; and
g) Types and quantities of equipment and materials used in oil
spill control work.
6.2 Photographs
Immediately after an accident, take photographs of the damage,
oil spill and continue to do so at appropriate intervals.
In this case, flash bulbs shall not be used in areas where there is
a risk of an explosion.
6.3 Sampling
Collect samples of the oil on board the ship and of the spilled
oil, completely seal the containers and paste labels on them
showing the date, and place the samples were taken, etc.
6.4 Entries in Ship's Log and Chief Engineer's Log
Enter the fact that there was an oil spill, the measures taken and
other necessary particulars..
7. Preparation and Submission of
Documents
The master shall prepare the necessary documents in
accordance with the procedure entitled "Records and Reports of
Marine Casualty " and submit them to the Company.
8. Actions to Be Taken when Oil Spills
from Other Ships Are Found
Regardless of whether during passage or while berthed, when
an oil spill not originating from the ship is found on the sea, the
master shall take the following measures so as to protect the
interests of the ship and to make it clear that the oil spill is not
the responsibility of the ship:
a) Report the facts to the Company;
b) When the oil spill is large, report to the harbor master or the
maritime safety authorities;
c) If possible, obtain samples;
d) Check and record the names of the ships in the vicinity;
e) If required, prepare a Notice of Liability and a Claim Letter;
f) Contact P&I Representative.