Question 605General Subjects - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is A) 3 nautical miles. According to MARPOL Annex V and 33 CFR Subchapter O, the prohibition on discharging ground paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, and crockery applies to vessels operating within 3 nautical miles of the nearest land. This is considered the "special area" where more stringent discharge regulations are in place to protect the marine environment. The other options are incorrect because 12 nautical miles is the limit for the territorial sea, 25 nautical miles is not a recognized distance in this regulation, and 200 nautical miles is the exclusive economic zone, which has different discharge rules that are less restrictive than the 3 nautical mile special area.