Question 242Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is C) be terminated automatically. This is because the regulations for the discharge of ballast water, as outlined in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), state that if the oil content of the ballast water exceeds 15 parts per million, the discharge must be stopped automatically. The oil monitor is used to detect the oil content, and if it exceeds the threshold, the deballasting process must be terminated immediately to prevent the discharge of oily ballast water. The other options are incorrect because A) allowing the oil to settle out and then resuming at a slower rate is not permitted, B) completely discharging the ballast is not necessary if the oil content can be reduced, and D) completing the deballasting after "load on top" is not the correct procedure in this scenario.