Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF OIL POLLUTION) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 18

General application

New oil tankers of 20000 tons deadweight and above

(1) Every new crude oil tanker of 20000 tons deadweight and above and every
new product carrier of 30000 tons deadweight and above shall be provided with
segregated ballast tanks and shall comply with paragraphs

(2), (3) and (4), or paragraph (5) as appropriate, of this regulation.

(2) The capacity of the segregated ballast tanks shall be such that the ship
may operate safely on ballast voyages without recourse to the use of cargo
tanks for water ballast except as provided for in paragraph (3) or (4) of this
regulation: Provided that the capacity of the segregated ballast tanks shall
be at less such that, in any ballast condition at any part of the voyage,
including the condition consisting of lightweight plus segregated ballast
only, the ship's draughts and trim can meet each of the following
requirements-

   (a)  the moulded draught amidships (dm) in metres (without taking into
        account any ship's deformation) shall not be less than 2.0 + 0.02L;

   (b)  the draughts at the forward and after perpendiculars shall correspond
        to those determined by the draught amidships (dm) as specified in
        sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, in association with the trim by
        the stern of not greater than 0.015L; and

   (c)  in any case the draught at the after perpendicular shall not be less
        than that which is necessary to obtain full immersion of the
        propeller.

(3) In no case shall ballast water be carried in cargo tanks, except-

   (a)  on those voyages when weather conditions are so severe that, in the
        opinion of the master, it is necessary to carry additional ballast
        water in cargo tanks for the safety of the ship;

   (b)  where the particular character of the operation of an oil  tanker
        renders it necessary to carry ballast water in excess of the quantity
        which may be carried in segregated ballast tanks under paragraph

(2) of this regulation, provided that the Director has approved that condition
of operation. Any such additional ballast water shall be processed and
discharged in accordance with the requirements of regulations 13 and 15 and an
entry of the discharge shall be made in the Oil Record Book.

(4) In the case of new crude oil tankers, the additional ballast permitted by
paragraph (3) of this regulation shall be carried in cargo tanks only if such
tanks have been crude oil washed in accordance with regulation 21 before
departure from an oil unloading port or terminal.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of this regulation the
capacity of the segregated ballast tanks for oil tankers less than 150 metres
in length shall be as may be determined by the Director.

(6) Every new crude oil tanker of 20000 tons deadweight and above shall be
fitted with a cargo tank cleaning system using crude oil washing. This system
shall fully comply with the requirements of regulation 21 within one year
after the tanker is first engaged in the trade of carrying crude oil or by the
end of the third voyage carrying crude oil suitable for crude oil washing,
whichever occurs later. Unless such oil tanker carries crude oil which is not
suitable for crude oil washing, it shall operate the system in accordance with
regulation 21.

Existing crude oil tankers of 40000 tons deadweight and above

(7) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (8) and (9) of this regulation and
to the provisions of regulations 22 and 23, every existing crude oil tanker of
40000 tons deadweight and above shall be provided with segregated ballast
tanks and shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this
regulation from the commencement of these Regulations.

(8) Subject to regulations 22 and 23, existing crude oil tankers of 40000 tons
deadweight and above may, in lieu of being provided with segregated ballast
tanks, operate with a cargo tank cleaning procedure using crude oil washing in
accordance with regulation 21 unless the crude  oil tanker is intended to
carry crude oil which is not suitable for crude  oil washing.

(9) Subject to regulations 22 and 23, existing crude oil tankers of 40000 tons
deadweight and above may, in lieu of being provided with segregated ballast
tanks or operating with a cargo tank cleaning procedure using crude oil
washing, operate with dedicated clean ballast tanks in accordance with the
provisions of regulation 20 for the following period-

   (a)  for crude oil tankers of 70000 tons deadweight and above, until 2
        October 1985; and

   (b)  for crude oil tankers of 40000 tons deadweight and above but below
        70000 tons deadweight, until 2 October 1987.

Existing product carriers of 40000 tons deadweight and above

(10) Subject to regulation 22, from the commencement of these Regulations
every existing product carrier of 40000 tons deadweight and above shall be
provided with segregated ballast tanks and shall comply with the requirements
of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation, or, alternatively, operate with
dedicated dean ballast tanks in accordance with the provisions of regulation
20.

An oil tanker described in the IOPP or HKOPP Certificate as, a segregated 
ballast oil tanker

(11) Any oil tanker which is not required to be provided with
segregated ballast tanks in accordance with paragraph (1), (7) or (10) of this
regulation may be described in the IOPP or HKOPP Certificate as a
segregated ballast tanker if it complies with the requirements of paragraphs
(2) and (3), or paragraph (5) as appropriate to this regulation.