Ship Documents

DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY LAW

ANY SHIP CARRYING NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES IN BULK

In addition to the certificates listed for passenger and cargo ships, where appropriate, any ship carrying noxious liquid chemical substances in bulk shall carry:

International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk (NLS Certificate)

Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 deals with the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances in bulk.

After survey, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 10 of Annex II of MARPOL 73/78, any ship carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk and which is engaged in voyages to ports or terminals under the jurisdiction of other Parties to MARPOL 73/78, shall receive an International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk (NLS Certificate). (See also side 2 and side 3 of document.)

NOTE

The Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk and the International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk issued under the provisions of the Bulk Chemical Code (BCH Code) and the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code) respectively, for chemical tankers, shall have the same force and receive the same recognition as the NLS Certificate. (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulations 12 and 12, par. (a).)

Quick Reference Guide

INTERNATIONAL POLLUTION PREVENTION

CERTIFICATE FOR THE CARRIAGE OF

NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES IN BULK

Legislation :	MARPOL 73/78, ANNEX II.
Application :	all ships carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 2, par. (1)).
Duration :	maximum 5 years (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 12, par. (1)). The certificate shall cease to be valid:
	—	in case of significant alterations (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 12, par. (2));
	—	upon transfer of the ship to another State (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 12, par. (3)).
Extension :	No extension permitted.
Surveys :	—	an initial survey before the ship is put in service (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (a));
	—	a periodical survey not exceeding 5 years (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (b));
	—	a minimum of one intermediate survey during the period of validity of the certificate (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (c));
	—	an annual surveys (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (d)).
	NOTES
	—	The intermediate and annual surveys shall be endorsed on the certificate (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (c) and (d));
	—	When only one intermediate survey is carried out in any one certificate validity period, it shall be held not before six months to, not later than six months after the helf-way date of the certificate's period of validity (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (c));
	—	The annual survey shall be held within three months before or after the day and the month of the date of issue of the certificate (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (1) (d));
Request :	Owner or shipbuilder to the Administration (e.g. the Maritime Inspectorate) or to an authorized Organization (e.g. a classification society).
Issue :	Administration or authorized Organization (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 11, par. (2)).
Surveys :	Administration or authorized Organization (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulation 10, par. (2) (a)).

Cargo Record Book

A Cargo Record Book (see also side 2, side 3, side 4, side 5, side 6 and side 7 of document), whether as part of the ship's official log book or otherwise shall be carried in every ship to which Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 applies. These are mainly the ships carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk, chemical tankers and liquid gas carriers. This Cargo Record Book shall be in the form specified in appendix IV to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78.

Procedure and Arrangement Manual (P & A Manual)

Resolution MEPC.18(22) gives standards for procedures and arrangements for the discharge of noxious liquid substances. Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 provides for the control of the discharge of noxious liquid substances or water contaminated by these substances which are the result of cargo tank and line washing, de-ballasting of unwashed cargo tanks or cargo pump-room bilge slops.

Noxious liquid substances have been divided in four categories: A, B, C and D. Regulation 5 of Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 specifies the conditions under which discharge of residues of these categories of substances may take place; Regulation 5A deals with the Pumping, piping and unloading arrangements and Regulation 8 deals with the measures of control.

In the light of Annex II each ship, certified to carry noxious liquid substances in bulk, shall have a Procedure and Arrangement Manual approved by the Administration. The manual should contain the information specified in the Standards and the requirements of Annex II of MARPOL 73/78. (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II, Regulations 5, 5A and 8 and Resolution MEPC.18(22), Chapter 2.)

Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan for Noxious Liquid Substances

Every ship of 150 gross tonnage and above certified to carry noxious liquid substances in bulk shall carry on board a shipboard marine pollution emergency plan for noxious liquid substances approved by the Administration. This requirement shall apply to all ships not later than 1 January 2003.

The plan shall be in accordance with the Guideline for the Development of Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plans for Oil and/or Noxious Liquid Substances, developed by the Organization. The plan shall consist at least of:

the procedure to be followed by the master or other persons having charge of the ship to report a noxious liquid substances pollution incident, as required by article 8 and Protocol I of the convention, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization;
the list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of a noxious liquid substances pollution incident;
a detailed description of the action to be taken immediately by persons on board to reduce or control the discharge of noxious liquid substances following the incident;
the procedure and point of contact on the ship for co-ordinating shipboard action with national and local authorities in combating the pollution.

NOTE

In the case of ships to which Regulation 26 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 also applies, such plan may be combined with the shipboard oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) required under Regulation 26 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78. In this case, the title of such plan shall be Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan.