Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF OIL POLLUTION) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 11

General exceptions

PART III

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTROL OF OPERATIONAL POLLUTION- CONTROL OF DISCHARGE OF OIL

The provisions of regulations 12, 13 and 16 shall not apply to-

   (a)  any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture which is necessary
        for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at
        sea; or

   (b)  any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture which results from
        damage to a ship or its equipment-

        (i)    provided that all reasonable precautions were taken after the
               occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the
               purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and

        (ii)   unless the owner or the master acted either with intent to
               cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage
               would probably result; or

   (c)  any approved discharge into the sea of substances containing oil, when
        being used for the purpose of combating specific pollution incidents
        in order to minimize the damage from pollution. Any such discharge
        shall be subject to the approval of any Government in whose
        jurisdiction it is contemplated the discharge will occur.