MARPOL – From Memory to Management
The Examiner’s Perspective: Any cadet can recite the six Annexes of MARPOL 73/78. However, at the management level, the examiner is not checking your ability to memorise a list; they are testing your ability to manage compliance and protect the ship owner's interests during a Port State Control (PSC) inspection.
When answering MARPOL questions in a senior oral exam, you must pivot from "What is the regulation?" to "How do I implement it?"
Salient Points for a Senior Answer:
Annex I (Oil) – The Trap of the ORB:
Examiners frequently target the Oil Record Book (Part I). It is not enough to know the discharge criteria (15ppm, en route, etc.). You must demonstrate knowledge of Code C (Collection and Disposal) and Code I (Additional Operational Procedures).
Critically, you must articulate the procedure for equipment failure. If the OWS fails, the examiner expects you to state that the operation is stopped, the failure is recorded in the ORB, the Master is informed, and the Flag State/Class is notified if the defect affects the validity of the IOPP Certificate.
Annex V (Garbage) – Beyond the Placards:
Do not just list discharge distances. Focus on the Garbage Management Plan (GMP). A Senior Officer must ensure the crew knows who is responsible for carrying out the plan.
Highlight the distinction between "operational waste" and "cargo residues," and the specific requirements for Special Areas. The examiner wants to know that you check the current coordinates of the ship before authorising a discharge, not just the general theory.
Annex VI (Air Pollution) – The Modern Focus:
This is currently the highest-risk area for failure. You must be conversant with the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) and its retention period (3 years onboard).
Demonstrate understanding of the SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan) not just as a document, but as an operational tool linked to the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
Be prepared to discuss Tier III NOx compliance if operating in an Emission Control Area (ECA).
Summary MARPOL is not a static set of rules; it is a dynamic operational framework. A Senior Engineer or Master must view these regulations through the lens of a surveyor. Compliance is proven not by what you say, but by what you record. Whether it is ensuring the sulphur content on a BDN matches the IAPP certificate, or verifying the catechism of the Oil Record Book, your answer must always conclude with the verification of documentation.
Theory is good. Competency is better. Struggling to link this regulation to your daily duties? SeaOC bridges the gap between the textbook and the oral exam.
