Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF OIL POLLUTION) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 12

Ships other than oil tankers and machinery space bilges of oil tankers

(1) Subject to regulation 11 this regulation applies to-

   (a)  (i) Hong Kong ships other than oil tankers; and

        (ii)   Hong Kong oil tankers in relation to discharges from their
               machinery space bilges (unless mixed with oil cargo residue)
               but excluding cargo pump room bilges, wherever they may be and
               to-

   (b)  (i) other ships other than oil tankers; and

        (ii)   other oil tankers in relation to discharges from their
               machinery space bilges (unless mixed with oil cargo residue)
               but excluding cargo pump room bilges, when they are within the
               waters of Hong Kong.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this regulation a ship to which this
regulation applies shall not discharge oil or oily mixture into any part of
the sea unless all the following conditions are satisfied-

   (a)  the ship is proceeding on a voyage;

   (b)  the ship is not within a special area;

   (c)  the oil content of the effluent without dilution does not exceed 15
        ppm; and (L.N. 641 of 1994)

   (d)  the ship has in operation equipment as required by regulation 14.
        (L.N. 641 of 1994)

   (e)  (Repealed L.N. 641 of 1994)

(3) In the case of an existing ship referred to in regulation 14(4), not
fitted with equipment as required by regulation 14(1) or (2), the provisions
of paragraph (2) will not apply until 6 July 1998 or the date on which the
ship is fitted with such equipment, whichever is the earlier. Until this date
any discharge from machinery space bilges into the sea of oil or oily mixtures
from such a ship shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions
are satisfied-

   (a)  the oily mixture does not originate from the cargo pump-room bilges;

   (b)  the oily mixture is not mixed with oil cargo resides;

   (c)  the ship is not within a special area;

   (d)  the ship is more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land;

   (e)  the ship is proceeding en route;

   (f)  the oil content of the effluent is less than 100 parts per million;
        and

   (g)  the ship has in operation oily-water separating equipment of a design
        approved as being in accordance with the specification set out in
        Schedule 3. (L.N. 641 of 1994)

(4) No discharge into the sea shall contain chemicals or other substances in
quantities or concentrations which are hazardous to the marine environment or
chemicals or other substances introduced for the purpose of circumventing the
conditions of discharge prescribed by this regulation.

(5) Insofar as any oil or oily mixture has not been unloaded as cargo and may
not be discharged into the sea in compliance with paragraph

(2), it shall be retained on board and shall only be discharged into reception
facilities. (L.N. 641 of 1994)