Question 59 ONC02 - Second Mate/Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage

The Correct Answer is A. **Explanation of Option A (Correct):** Option A states the requirement for the tankship to be capable of retaining all oily mixtures onboard in the ship's bilges or sludge tank. This requirement is mandated by international and national regulations governing pollution prevention from ships, specifically concerning machinery space bilges and oily residues (sludge). The general principle, particularly for non-oceangoing tankships operating in coastal or internal waters, aligns with the requirements of MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 17 (Sludge tanks) and Regulation 18 (Standard discharge connection). Even if the vessel is not subject to all MARPOL requirements due to its non-oceangoing status, domestic regulations (such as those found in 33 CFR Subchapter O, which governs Pollution) typically require vessels to retain oily mixtures and sludge onboard for proper disposal ashore, rather than discharging them. The ability to retain oily mixtures (bilge water and sludge) is fundamental to operating in compliance with pollution prevention standards. **Explanation of Other Options (Incorrect):** * **B) A means on the weather deck to stop each pump used to discharge oily waste overboard:** This is incorrect. While safety shutoffs are required for various pumps, the core regulatory requirement is to prevent the unauthorized or accidental discharge of oily waste. Regulations focus on having monitoring equipment (like Oil Content Meters) or requiring retention. Furthermore, discharging oily waste overboard is generally prohibited, making a dedicated weather deck stop for an "oily waste overboard discharge pump" (which shouldn't exist in that context) irrelevant to the primary pollution control structure. * **C) Must maintain two pumps for discharging oily bilge slops:** This is incorrect. There is no specific regulatory requirement to maintain two dedicated pumps for discharging oily bilge slops. Regulations focus on the capability to handle bilge water and sludge, which may involve a single bilge pump system that routes the mixture through an oily water separator (OWS) or to a holding tank, and sludge pumps. The requirement is functional (retention/separation), not based on the number of pumps. * **D) Shall have a fixed piping system for bilge slops with one outlet on each side of the weather deck:** This is incorrect. Regulations (MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 18) require a standard discharge connection (often referred to as a "shore connection") for sludge and/or bilge water to facilitate discharge to shore facilities. However, only one such connection is typically required for each type of discharge, and it must conform to specific dimensions and pressure ratings. Having one on *each side* of the weather deck is not a regulatory mandate; one accessible location is sufficient.