Control." As a GSM, you should be aware of the
these concerns, U.S. Navy vessels must comply with
existing federal, state, local, national, and international
following oil pollution abatement equipment/systems
laws.
that are scheduled for installation on U.S. Navy vessels:
LAWS. U.S. Public Law 96-478, Act to Prevent
1. Oil-water separators, oil content monitors, oily
Pollution from Ships, replaced the Oil Pollution Control
waste holding tanks, and waste/used oil tanks that will
Act and implements the International Convention for the
allow the ship to separate and collect shipboard waste
Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the Clean Water
oil and to process oily wastes before discharging them
Act. Without impairing DOD operational capabilities,
2. Bilge pumps (oily waste transfer pumps), piping
U.S. Navy ships must comply with the following basic
risers, and weather-deck connections that will allow safe
standards of these laws and with the applicable Status
and convenient ship-to-shore transfer of oily wastes
of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and OPNAVINST
5090.1A:
3. Two and one-half inch cam-lock discharge
connections (MS27023-14) for oily waste discharge that
1. If operating in navigable waters of the United
will allow for rapid connect/disconnect functions with
States or within 50 nm from the U.S. coastline, your ship
shoreside offloading hoses
is prohibited from discharging oil in quantities that will
cause a sheen or discoloration on the surface of the water
4. Oily waste discharge adapters to accommodate
or deposits of sludge or emulsion beneath the surface or
hoses with international-standard flanges when Navy
on the adjoining shorelines. This means that all oily
vessels visit foreign and non-Navy ports
discharges must be less than 10 ppm of effluent within
5. Mechanical seals on shipboard pumps to
12 nm of shore and less than 100 ppm beyond the 12 nm
minimize the quantity of oily waste water collected in
limit. Basically, this means your ship is prohibited from
the bilges
directly discharging any oily bilge water at sea before
processing it through an effective oil-water separator
6. Improved tank level indicators to reduce
(OWS).
overboard spills during fueling and oily waste handling
and transfer operations
2. If your ship is operating in coastal waters or
territorial seas up to 12 nm from the shoreline of a
7. Contaminated fuel settling tanks to receive and
foreign country, you must abide by the oily waste
assist reclamation of fuel tank strippings which might
discharge regulations of the applicable SOFA. In the
otherwise be discharged overboard
Mediterranean Sea, for example, your ship is restricted
PROCEDURES. For detailed procedural
to an effluent discharge rate of less than 15 ppm. If no
instructions concerning shipboard oil pollution
SOFA exists, your ship must operate according to the
standards of the host country's military forces until a
abatement, you should consult NSTM, chapter 593,
"Pollution Control." In the following sections, we will
satisfactory agreement with the host country can be
reached. Unless otherwise provided by a SOFA, U.S.
discuss some of the highlights of these procedures and
Navy vessels operating temporarily within a foreign
other important information that you, as a GSM, should
jurisdiction are subject to that country's standards to the
be aware of when your ship must dispose of bilge water
extent specified by the clearance for a visit. If no
and oily wastes, waste/used oils, and waste water test
standards exist, your ship is prohibited from discharging
chemicals.
unprocessed oily wastes within 50 nm from land. Ships
Bilge Water and Oily Wastes. You should be
that are not equipped with OWS units must retain all oily
aware of the procedures your ship will need to use for
wastes for proper disposal at a shore reception facility.
the careful disposal of bilge water and oily wastes. As a
EQUIPMENT. Because of the severity of the oil
GSM in the oil lab, you can use the information in the
pollution problem, the Navy is giving high-level
following list as a guideline.
attention to the prevention of oily discharges from its
1. Your ship must reduce oil contamination of its
ships and crafts. Special equipment for monitoring and
bilge water to a minimum. Use of carefully maintained
controlling shipboard effluents is currently being
mechanical seals in oil and water pumps and the proper
installed throughout the fleet. To operate this equipment
segregation of oily and nonoily waste water will help
effectively and comply with the laws and regulations,
consult OPNAVINST 5090.1A, Environmental and
your ship reduce generation of oily wastes. Your ship's
Natural Resources Protection Manual, and Naval Ships'
efforts to segregate bilge water from oil are important
Techical Manual (NSTM), chapter 593, "Pollution
steps in pollution control.
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