The marine notice release by AMSA on march 2024, was to inform all ships calling Australian ports on the approved testing and inspection of oil filtering equipment to meet with resolution MEPC.107(49)
Our marine guide blog, always here to give our readers updates on new roles, marine insights and professional guidance for safe operations at sea.
The AMSA informs ships operators and recognised organisations of AMSA’s about the interpretation for the installation and testing of oil filtering equipment such as Oily Water Separator (OWS).
The oil filtering equipment installed on a ship on or after 1 January 2005 must be approved to meet Resolution MEPC.107(49) to comply with MARPOL Annex I regulation 14, stated the document.
As stated on the document above, the AMSA port state control (PSC) officers will inspect the condition and operation of the Oily Water Separator, filtering equipment and alarms, stopping or monitoring arrangements in accordance to procedures for PSC 2023 resolution A.1185(33).
Furthermore, the AMSA port state control officers (PSCOs) will confirm that there is a flow of effluent sample from the 15ppm of OWS that is truly representative, with adequate pressure and flow, to the 15ppm bilge alarm while effluent is being simulated to flow overboard.
However, where the flow of effluent sample is not a representative sample, including blockage of the sample line or incorrect operation of the valves, it’s expected that the fail-safes arrangement will activate the automatic stopping device (the 3-way valve) and eventually stop effluent discharge overboard.
AMSA’s consideration when testing Oily Water Separator (OWS)
- MEPC 107(49) approved system that is fitted with an effluent sample flow sensor to the 15ppm alarm
- MEPC 107(49) approved system that is not fitted with an effluent sample flow sensor to the 15ppm bilge alarm.
These two types as mentioned above, will be considered independently as approved under MEPC. See attached documents for more details.
