The guidance document assists compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) requirements on board ships by providing advice to crews on how to record the various operations in the Oil Record Book. In particular, the guidance document provides advice on using the correct codes and item numbers to ensure a more uniform port State control procedure.

The guidance is to be applied in conjunction with the amendments to MARPOL Annex I that entered into force on 1 January 2011. The guidance document provides specific examples for the recording of information within the Oil Record Book Part I for the following:

• collection of oil residues (sludge)
• disposal or transfer of oil residues (sludge)
• non-automatic discharge overboard or disposal otherwise of bilge water which has accumulated in machinery spaces
• automatic  discharge  overboard  or disposal otherwise of bilge water which has accumulated in machinery spaces
• condition of oil filtering equipment
• accidental  or other  exceptional  discharge  of oil
• bunkering of fuel or bulk lubricating oil
• additional operational procedures and general remarks
• tankers with slop tanks, and
• general guidance – additional voluntary recordings.

A copy of the guidance document, MEPC.1/Circ.736/Rev.2 can be obtained from the IMO website or by contacting Environment.Standards@amsa.gov.au. Oil Record Books can be purchased from AMSA through the publications order form.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601