Question 67 OSV01 - Master/Chief Mate - Offshore Supply Vessels

The Correct Answer is D **Explanation for D ("All of the above") being correct:** Annex V of MARPOL 73/78 sets strict international regulations for the discharge of garbage from ships. The specific rules regarding discharge depend on the type of garbage, whether it is comminuted/ground, and the ship's distance from the nearest land. The general rule for discharging non-harmful garbage (like paper, rags, and food waste) when a ship is outside a Special Area is that it must be at least 3 nautical miles (nm) away if comminuted/ground, or at least 12 nm away if not comminuted. In the scenario provided, the vessel is located **10 nautical miles** (nm) from the nearest land. * **10 nm is less than 12 nm.** This means any garbage that is **not comminuted or ground** (like C) is prohibited from discharge. * **10 nm is more than 3 nm.** However, according to the revised Annex V (Resolution MEPC.201(62)), plastics are prohibited from discharge anywhere. While paper and rags are not strictly plastics, the current interpretation of Annex V often treats any refuse as prohibited unless specifically allowed, and the options A and B highlight comminuted materials that would typically be allowed only beyond 3 nm, but the issue lies with the specific nature of the materials when considering the general prohibition on non-food operational waste discharge in this zone, especially for disposal methods that might be interpreted as non-standard operational discharge (e.g., throwing bags). More fundamentally, for materials other than food waste (i.e., operational garbage like paper and rags), the rules established by Regulation 4.1.3 of Annex V prohibit the discharge of all operational garbage (except food waste) when the ship is located less than 12 nm from the nearest land. 1. **A (Paper) and B (Rags)** are considered operational garbage. Since the vessel is at 10 nm, the discharge of comminuted or non-comminuted operational garbage (including paper and rags) is **prohibited** (must be 12 nm or more). 2. **C (Food waste, not comminuted or ground)** must be discharged at least 12 nm from the nearest land. Since the vessel is at 10 nm, the discharge of non-comminuted food waste is **prohibited**. Since all three specific discharges (A, B, and C) are prohibited at the 10 nm location, **D ("All of the above")** is the correct answer. **Explanation of why other options are incorrect:** * **A) Paper ground to less than 1" is incorrect** because while this material (operational garbage) is prohibited from discharge at 10 nm, C is also prohibited. Selecting A alone overlooks the prohibition on C. * **B) Rags ground to less than 1" is incorrect** because this material (operational garbage) is prohibited from discharge at 10 nm, but A and C are also prohibited. Selecting B alone overlooks the prohibitions on A and C. * **C) Food waste, not comminuted or ground is incorrect** because this material is prohibited from discharge at 10 nm (needs 12 nm), but A and B are also prohibited (needs 12 nm for operational waste). Selecting C alone overlooks the prohibitions on A and B.