Oil tankers involved in Ship to Ship Transfer (STS) of oil cargo will from first survey after 2011-01-01 need an approved STS manual onboard. DNV is ready to approve this manual on behalf of the Flag Administration.

Resolution MEPC.186(59) was adopted at MEPC 59 and contains a new Chapter 8 to MARPOL Annex I on the prevention of pollution during the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea. The new regulation applies to any oil tanker of 150 GT and above engaged in the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea (STS operations). Bunker operations and oil transfer operations associated with fixed or floating platforms are excluded.

Affected oil tankers involved in STS operations will need to carry on board an approved STS operations Plan describing how STS operations are to be conducted. STS operations Plan approval is required not later than the date of the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey of the ship under MARPOL Annex I to be carried out on or after 1 January 2011.

The STS operations Plan shall be developed in accordance with the requirements in IMO’s “Manual on Oil Pollution, Section 1, Prevention” as amended, and the ICS and OCIMF “Ship to Ship Transfer Guide, Petroleum, fourth edition, 2005. The STS operations Plan may be incorporated into an existing Safety Management System required by the chapter IX of SOLAS, 1974, as amended, if that requirement is applicable to the oil tanker in question. However, it does not remove the need for the plan to be approved as required by the resolution.

Operations conducted on or after 1 April 2012 must be in accordance with the approved plan. Records of STS operations shall be recorded in the Oil Record Book and are to be retained on board for a period of not less than three years since the transfer occurred. Any oil tanker subject to the regulation that plans STS operations within the territorial sea or the Exclusive Economic Zone of a Party to MARPOL, shall notify the relevant coastal state Party not less than 48 hours in advance of the scheduled STS operations.

DNV offers to review the STS Plan in accordance with Chapter 8 requirements and consequently issue new Supplement to the IOPP Certificate, Form B.

For further information contact our Maritime Service Centre

Datum: woensdag 10 maart 2010