Shipping Lawyer Environmental Compliance and Maritime Law 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'SOLAS' and what aspect of shipping does it primarily regulate?
- International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, regulating vessel construction and safety equipment (Correct answer)
- Shipping Operations and Liability at Sea Act, governing carrier liability
- A U.S. statute on port security
- An IMO pollution convention
Correct answer: International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, regulating vessel construction and safety equipment
SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) is the primary international treaty establishing minimum safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation.
Question 2: Under the Clean Water Act, what are 'discharge of dredged material' permits regulated by?
- EPA Stormwater Program
- Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permit program (Correct answer)
- Coast Guard Marine Safety Program
- FMC Port Facility permits
Correct answer: Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permit program
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires Army Corps of Engineers permits for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including navigable channels.
Question 3: What is 'scrubber technology' in the context of MARPOL sulfur compliance?
- A system for cleaning cargo holds
- An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulfur oxides from ship emissions, allowing use of high-sulfur fuel (Correct answer)
- A ballast water treatment technology
- An oil spill cleanup device
Correct answer: An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulfur oxides from ship emissions, allowing use of high-sulfur fuel
Exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) allow vessels to burn cheaper high-sulfur fuel while meeting MARPOL Annex VI sulfur emission limits by removing SOx before discharge.
Question 4: What is 'port state control' (PSC) and what authority does it give coastal nations?
- A coastal nation's right to control its ports' ownership
- The right of a port state to inspect foreign vessels in its ports for compliance with international maritime conventions (Correct answer)
- A state's authority to set port tariffs
- Authority to arrest vessels for unpaid dues
Correct answer: The right of a port state to inspect foreign vessels in its ports for compliance with international maritime conventions
Port state control allows coastal nations to inspect foreign vessels calling at their ports to verify compliance with SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and other international conventions.
Question 5: What is the 'International Safety Management' (ISM) Code and what does it require?
- A code governing cargo packing standards
- An IMO Code requiring shipping companies to implement a Safety Management System to prevent accidents and pollution (Correct answer)
- A flag state registry requirement for vessel documentation
- A code regulating maritime labor conditions
Correct answer: An IMO Code requiring shipping companies to implement a Safety Management System to prevent accidents and pollution
The ISM Code requires companies operating ships to develop, implement, and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) addressing safe ship operation and environmental protection.
Question 6: What is 'LNG as bunker fuel' and what regulatory framework governs its use?
- Liquefied natural gas used as ship fuel, regulated under MARPOL Annex VI and the IGF Code for design and safety requirements (Correct answer)
- A fuel additive for emission reduction
- A classified dangerous cargo under IMDG Code
- A fuel banned in emission control areas
Correct answer: Liquefied natural gas used as ship fuel, regulated under MARPOL Annex VI and the IGF Code for design and safety requirements
LNG produces significantly lower SOx and NOx emissions than conventional marine fuels; vessels using LNG as fuel must comply with MARPOL Annex VI and the IGF Code for gas-fueled ships.
Shipping Lawyer Environmental Compliance and Maritime Law 2
What is 'SOLAS' and what aspect of shipping does it primarily regulate?