Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF OIL POLLUTION) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 23B

Prevention of oil pollution in the event of collision or stranding- measures for existing ships

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) This regulation shall-

   (a)  apply to crude oil tankers of 20000 tons deadweight and above and to
        product carriers of 30000 tons deadweight and above, which are
        contracted, the keels of which are laid, or which are delivered before
        the dates specified in regulation 23A(1);

   (b)  not apply to oil tankers complying with regulation 23A, which are
        contracted, the keels of which are laid, or are delivered before the
        dates specified in regulation 23A(1); and

   (c)  not apply to oil tankers covered by subparagraph (a) which comply with
        regulation 23A(3)(a) and (b) or (4) or (5), except that the
        requirement for minimum distances between the cargo tank boundaries
        and the ship side and bottom plating need not be met in all respects.
        In that event, the side protection distances shall not be less than
        those specified in the International Bulk Chemical Code for
        type 2 cargo tank location and the bottom protection shall comply with
        regulation 19(4)(b).

(2) The requirements of this regulation shall take effect as from 6 July 1995.

(3) (a) An oil tanker to which this regulation applies shall be subject to an
enhanced programme of inspections during periodical, intermediate and annual
surveys, the scope and frequency of which shall at least comply with the
guidelines developed by the Organization;

   (b)  An oil tanker over 5 years of age to which this regulation applies
        shall have on board, a complete file of the survey reports, including
        the results of all scantling measurement required, as well as the
        statement of structural work carried out;

   (c)  This file shall be accompanied by a condition evaluation report,
        containing conclusions on the structural condition of the ship and its
        residual scantlings, endorsed to indicate that it has been accepted by
        or on behalf of the Director. This file and condition evaluation
        report shall be prepared in a standard format as contained in the
        guidelines developed by the Organization.

(4) An oil tanker not meeting the requirements of a new oil tanker as defined
in regulation 17(1) shall comply with the requirements of regulation 23A not
later than 25 years after its date of delivery, unless wing tanks or double
bottom spaces, not used for the carriage of oil and meeting the width and
height requirements of regulation 19(4), cover at least 30% of Lt for the full
depth of the ship on each side or at least 30% of the projected bottom shell
area PAs within the length Lt, where Lt and the projected bottom shell area
PAs are as defined in regulation 19(2), in which case compliance with
regulation 23A is required not later than 30 years after its date of delivery.

(5) An oil tanker meeting the requirements of a new oil tanker as defined in
regulation 17(1) shall comply with the requirements of regulation 23A not
later than 30 years after its date of delivery.

(6) Any new ballast and load conditions resulting from the application of
paragraph (4) shall be subject to approval of the Director who shall have
regard, in particular, to longitudinal and local strength, intact stability
and, if applicable, damage stability. (L.N. 312 of 1998)

(7) Other structural or operational arrangements such as hydrostatically
balanced loading may be accepted as alternatives to the requirements
prescribed in paragraph (4), provided that such alternatives ensure at least
the same level of protection against oil pollution in the event of collision
or stranding and are approved by the Director based on the guidelines
developed by the Organization. (L.N. 641 of 1994)