MCA Certificate of Competency Marine Environmental Protection Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A UK-flagged vessel is transiting the North Sea, a designated MARPOL Special Area for garbage. The vessel is 15 nautical miles from the nearest land. Under MARPOL Annex V, which of the following actions is permissible regarding the discharge of food waste?
- All food waste discharges are strictly prohibited in the North Sea.
- Discharge of any food waste is permitted as the vessel is more than 12 nm from land.
- Discharge is permitted only if the food waste is passed through a comminuter or grinder. (Correct answer)
- Discharge is only permitted when alongside in port, using approved reception facilities.
Correct answer: Discharge is permitted only if the food waste is passed through a comminuter or grinder.
The North Sea is a Special Area under MARPOL Annex V. UK regulations implementing this annex permit the discharge of comminuted or ground food wastes when the ship is en route and as far as practicable from, but not less than 12 nautical miles from, the nearest land. Discharging un-ground food waste is prohibited within a special area.
Question 2: The Chief Engineer on a UK-flagged vessel has just completed the transfer of 1.5 cubic metres of oil residue (sludge) from the purifier sludge tank to the main sludge tank. Which code must be used to accurately record this operation in the Oil Record Book Part I?
- Code D (Non-automatic discharge overboard or disposal otherwise of bilge water)
- Code H (Bunkering of fuel or bulk lubricating oil)
- Code F (Condition of oil filtering equipment)
- Code C (Collection, transfer and disposal of oil residues (sludge)) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Code C (Collection, transfer and disposal of oil residues (sludge))
The MARPOL Convention, as implemented by UK Merchant Shipping Regulations, mandates the use of specific codes for entries in the Oil Record Book Part I (Machinery Space Operations). Code C is designated for all operations involving the collection, transfer (including tank-to-tank transfers), and disposal of oil residues, commonly known as sludge.
Question 3: Under the latest amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, which came into force in the UK, what is the primary purpose of the mandatory Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) Part III?
- To document the ship's Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) at the time of build.
- To provide a three-year implementation plan describing how the ship will achieve the required annual Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). (Correct answer)
- To record the procedures for bunkering low-sulphur fuels.
- To list all ozone-depleting substances used in the ship's refrigeration systems.
Correct answer: To provide a three-year implementation plan describing how the ship will achieve the required annual Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
As of 1 January 2023, MARPOL Annex VI requires applicable ships (cargo, Ro-Pax, and cruise ships of 5,000 GT and above) to include a SEEMP Part III. This part must contain a plan outlining the methodology and measures the ship will use to achieve the required annual operational Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), with an implementation plan for at least the next three years.
Question 4: A vessel without a type-approved Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) arrives in a UK port from a non-UK port. The vessel needs to discharge ballast water to load cargo. According to the Ballast Water Management Convention as enforced in the UK, which of the following is the most appropriate course of action for the vessel?
- Provide evidence from the Ballast Water Record Book that a ballast water exchange (D-1 standard) was conducted at least 200 nm from land in water at least 200m deep. (Correct answer)
- Discharge the ballast water directly as the port authority is responsible for treatment.
- Refuse to discharge ballast water under any circumstances.
- Retrofit a treatment system immediately upon arrival before any discharge.
Correct answer: Provide evidence from the Ballast Water Record Book that a ballast water exchange (D-1 standard) was conducted at least 200 nm from land in water at least 200m deep.
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments is enacted in UK law. For vessels not yet required to meet the D-2 standard (treatment), the D-1 standard (ballast water exchange) is the required method. This involves exchanging the original ballast water in deep, open-ocean water, typically at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in water at least 200 metres in depth, to minimise the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms. This action must be recorded in the Ballast Water Record Book.
Question 5: A UK-flagged passenger ship is equipped with an MCA-approved sewage treatment plant that comminutes and disinfects the sewage. What is the minimum distance from the nearest land that the vessel must be before the treated effluent can be discharged into the sea?
- More than 12 nautical miles.
- More than 1 nautical mile.
- Discharge is only permitted outside of UK territorial waters (12 nm).
- More than 3 nautical miles. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: More than 3 nautical miles.
Under MARPOL Annex IV, as implemented by UK regulations, the discharge of sewage that has been treated by an approved system (comminuted and disinfected) is permitted at a distance of more than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land. If the sewage were not treated, the minimum distance would increase to more than 12 nautical miles.
Question 6: A vessel is on a voyage from Bristol to Hamburg. While transiting through the English Channel, which is a designated Emission Control Area (ECA), what is the maximum permissible sulphur content of the fuel oil being used onboard, according to MARPOL Annex VI?
- 0.50% m/m
- 0.10% m/m (Correct answer)
- 1.00% m/m
- 3.50% m/m
Correct answer: 0.10% m/m
The English Channel is part of the North Sea Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA). Under Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI, which is enforced by the MCA, ships operating within a designated SECA must use fuel oil with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10% m/m. This is significantly lower than the global limit of 0.50% m/m.
MCA Certificate of Competency Marine Environmental Protection Questions and Answers
A UK-flagged vessel is transiting the North Sea, a designated MARPOL Special Area for garbage.
The vessel is 15 nautical miles from the nearest land.
Under MARPOL Annex V, which of the following actions is permissible regarding the discharge of food waste?