MEPC.1/Circ.892
9 July 2021
GUIDELINES
FOR EXEMPTION OF UNMANNED NON-SELF-PROPELLED (UNSP) BARGES FROM CERTAIN SURVEY
AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MARPOL CONVENTION
1 The Marine
Environment Protection Committee, at its seventy-sixth session (10 to 17 June
2021), adopted amendments to MARPOL Annexes I and IV and amendments to MARPOL
Annex VI, concerning the exemption of unmanned non-self-propelled (UNSP) barges
from certain survey and certification requirements, by resolutions MEPC.330(76) and
MEPC.328(76),
respectively.
2 The Marine
Environment Protection Committee, at its seventy-sixth session, with a view to
providing more specific guidance for the application of the above-mentioned
amendments, approved the Guidelines for exemption of unmanned
non-self-propelled (UNSP) barges from certain survey and certification
requirements under the MARPOL Convention, as set out in the annex.
3 Member Governments
are invited to use the annexed Guidelines when exempting UNSP barges from the
relevant provisions of the MARPOL Convention, and to bring them to the
attention of all parties concerned.
ANNEX
GUIDELINES
FOR EXEMPTION OF UNMANNED NON-SELF-PROPELLED (UNSP) BARGES FROM CERTAIN SURVEY
AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MARPOL CONVENTION
1 Introduction
1.1 The Guidelines are
intended to provide specific guidance for flag States, port States and relevant
parties, including shipowners and operators, on the application of the relevant
requirements of the MARPOL Convention concerning exemption of unmanned
non-self-propelled (UNSP) barges from certain survey and certification
requirements pursuant to the amendments to MARPOL Annexes I and IV, as adopted
by resolution MEPC.330(76),
and the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, as adopted by resolution MEPC.328(76).
1.2 For the purpose of
reducing the administrative burden of flag States, port States and relevant
parties, an exemption of a UNSP barge from certain survey and certification
requirements under MARPOL Annexes I, IV and VI may be granted. In this
connection, the exemption certificate(s) for a UNSP barge should be issued by
the Administration, in accordance with regulations 3.7 and 9.2 of MARPOL Annex
I, regulations 3.2 and 7.2 of MARPOL Annex IV, regulations 3.4 and 8.4 of
MARPOL Annex VI, using the forms set out in the appendices of MARPOL Annexes I,
IV and VI.
1.3 Such certificates
should be issued either by the Administration or by any person or organization
duly authorized by it. In every case, the Administration assumes full
responsibility for the certificates.
2 Application
The Guidelines are applicable to the exemption(s) of UNSP barges from
certain requirements as regulated in regulation 3.7 of MARPOL Annex I,
regulation 3.2 of MARPOL Annex IV and regulation 3.4 of MARPOL Annex VI.
2.2 Technical and
operational requirements
2.2.1 Certain
technical requirements of MARPOL Annex I, IV, and VI are not applicable to
UNSP barges. The following regulations are not required to be complied with by
UNSP barges if exempted:
.1 MARPOL Annex I:
regulations
12 (Tanks for oil residues (sludge)), 12A (Oil fuel tank protection), 13
(Standard discharge connection), 14 (Oil filtering equipment) and 16
(Segregation of oil and water ballast and carriage of oil in forepeak tanks);
.2 MARPOL Annex IV:
regulations
9 (Sewage systems) and 10 (Standard discharge connections); and
.3 MARPOL Annex VI:
regulations
12 (Ozone-depleting substances), 13 (Nitrogen oxides (NOX)), 14
(Sulphur oxides (SOX) and particulate matter) and 16 (Shipboard
incineration).
2.2.2 As UNSP barges do
not have onboard sources of relevant pollutants of the marine environment, as
defined in MARPOL Annexes I, IV and VI, operational requirements in the
following provisions of MARPOL are not applicable to UNSP barges:
.1 MARPOL Annex I:
regulations
15 (Control of discharge of oil), 17 (Oil Record Book Part I - Machinery space
operations) and 37 (Shipboard oil pollution emergency plan); and
.2 MARPOL Annex IV:
regulation
11 (Discharge of sewage).
3 Procedures for
granting exemptions
3.1 The shipowner or
operator should apply to the Administration, or the Recognized Organization
(RO) acting on its behalf, for exemption(s) with relevant information on the
exemption(s) conditions for UNSP barges and relevant drawings (General
Arrangement Plan, Capacity Plan and any other plans or documents, as
necessary).
3.2 The Administration,
or the RO acting on its behalf, should review the General Arrangement Plan,
Capacity Plan and other relevant information to confirm that the relevant
conditions referred to in regulation 3.7 of MARPOL Annex I, regulation 3.2 of
MARPOL Annex IV, or regulation 3.4 of MARPOL Annex VI, as appropriate, are met.
3.3 After a
satisfactory review of the submitted plans and information, a survey of the
UNSP barge should be carried out to confirm if the actual arrangements on board
comply with the exemption conditions, as appropriate.
3.4 Exemption
requirements may not be met where, whether temporarily or permanently, the
barge has a means of generating oil residues, exhausts gas emissions, sewage,
or other pollutants as defined in MARPOL Annexes I, IV or VI. In such cases,
the exemption of survey and certification requirements for the applicable
MARPOL Annexes should not be granted.