MTC Emissions Control & Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under MARPOL Annex VI, what is the global sulfur cap for marine fuel oil that took effect on January 1, 2020?
- 1.00% m/m
- 0.50% m/m (Correct answer)
- 0.10% m/m
- 3.50% m/m
Correct answer: 0.50% m/m
MARPOL Annex VI reduced the global sulfur limit in marine fuel oil from 3.50% to 0.50% m/m effective January 1, 2020.
Question 2: Which EPA Tier classification applies to new marine diesel engines with rated power ≥600 kW installed in vessels after 2014?
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 4 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Tier 4
EPA Tier 4 standards apply to recreational and commercial marine diesel engines ≥600 kW produced after 2014, requiring significant NOx and PM reductions.
Question 3: A vessel operating in a North American Emission Control Area (ECA) must use fuel with a maximum sulfur content of:
- 0.50%
- 1.00%
- 0.10% (Correct answer)
- 0.20%
Correct answer: 0.10%
Within the North American ECA, MARPOL Annex VI requires fuel sulfur content not to exceed 0.10% m/m.
Question 4: Which document must be maintained onboard to record the management of oily water separator (OWS) discharges?
- Cargo Record Book
- Oil Record Book Part I (Correct answer)
- Garbage Record Book
- Engine Log
Correct answer: Oil Record Book Part I
MARPOL Annex I requires vessels to maintain an Oil Record Book Part I documenting all machinery space oil operations including OWS discharges.
Question 5: What is the maximum allowable oil content in bilge water discharged outside special areas under MARPOL Annex I?
- 5 ppm
- 10 ppm
- 15 ppm (Correct answer)
- 25 ppm
Correct answer: 15 ppm
MARPOL Annex I permits overboard discharge of bilge water outside special areas only when oil content does not exceed 15 ppm.
Question 6: Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems on marine engines primarily reduce which exhaust emission?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) (Correct answer)
- Particulate matter (PM)
Correct answer: Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
SCR systems inject urea (AdBlue/DEF) into the exhaust stream, converting NOx into nitrogen and water vapor.
Question 7: Under the Clean Water Act, which federal permit program regulates discharges of pollutants from vessels into U.S. navigable waters?
- SPDES
- NPDES (Correct answer)
- RCRA
- CERCLA
Correct answer: NPDES
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the Clean Water Act requires permits for vessel discharges into U.S. waters.
MTC Emissions Control & Environmental Compliance 2
Under MARPOL Annex VI, what is the global sulfur cap for marine fuel oil that took effect on January 1, 2020?