VTS Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Standards 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which IMO resolution established the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) designation?
- A.982(24) (Correct answer)
- A.720(17)
- MSC.1/Circ.1455
- A.857(20)
Correct answer: A.982(24)
IMO Assembly Resolution A.982(24) established the revised guidelines for the identification and designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas.
Question 2: A vessel's Garbage Management Plan is required under which MARPOL Annex?
- Annex I
- Annex III
- Annex V (Correct answer)
- Annex VI
Correct answer: Annex V
MARPOL Annex V governs the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships and requires vessels to maintain a Garbage Management Plan.
Question 3: Under the Shore Protection Act, what must vessels carrying municipal or commercial waste have before entering U.S. ports?
- A hazardous materials endorsement
- A waste permit issued by the EPA
- A manifest and permit if transporting municipal or commercial waste (Correct answer)
- A cargo declaration filed 96 hours in advance
Correct answer: A manifest and permit if transporting municipal or commercial waste
The Shore Protection Act requires vessels transporting municipal or commercial waste to carry a manifest and obtain a permit prior to entering U.S. ports.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the National Response Framework (NRF) as it applies to maritime environmental incidents?
- To assign Coast Guard district boundaries
- To provide a unified national approach for responding to disasters and emergencies including environmental incidents (Correct answer)
- To set penalties for MARPOL violations
- To establish VTS reporting intervals during spills
Correct answer: To provide a unified national approach for responding to disasters and emergencies including environmental incidents
The NRF provides guiding principles for a unified national response to disasters and emergencies, including maritime environmental incidents.
Question 5: A vessel's Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) is required under which regulation?
- SOLAS Chapter IV
- MARPOL Annex I Regulation 37 (Correct answer)
- 33 CFR Part 160
- IMO Resolution A.857(20)
Correct answer: MARPOL Annex I Regulation 37
MARPOL Annex I Regulation 37 requires vessels of 400 GT or more and tankers of 150 GT or more to carry an approved SOPEP.
Question 6: When a vessel is involved in a pollution incident in U.S. waters, the National Response Center (NRC) must be notified within what timeframe?
- Within 6 hours of discovery
- Within 24 hours of discovery
- As soon as possible after discovery (Correct answer)
- Within 72 hours after the incident
Correct answer: As soon as possible after discovery
Federal regulations require the responsible party to notify the NRC as soon as possible after knowledge of a discharge, without delay.
Question 7: Which international agreement obligates signatory nations, including the U.S., to cooperate on marine environmental protection and pollution response in the broader Pacific region?
- HELCOM Convention
- OSPAR Convention
- The Honolulu Strategy
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
UNCLOS (Articles 192-237) obligates signatory states to protect and preserve the marine environment and cooperate on pollution prevention and response.
VTS Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Standards 5
Which IMO resolution established the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) designation?