STS Operations Plan for Panamanian-flagged Ships Tec No.:TEC- 1367 (64kb) Contact:Survey Department Issued:18 Nov 2025 Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) additionally revised their Merchant Marine Circular MMC-217 for Ship-to-Ship (STS) operations for Panamanian-flagged ships. Please note the following points on the Ship-to-Ship (STS) Operations Plan for Panamanian-flagged ships. This Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1358. The changes from ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1358 are as follows: Addition of References in Item 2 "Additional Requirements" Relevant Section: STS Operations Plan shall be developed taking into account IMO's "Manual on Oil Pollution, Section I, Prevention" as amended, and the ICS and OCIMF Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases (2013). (To be continued)
This Technical Information became null and void on 18 Nov 2025. STS Operations Plan for Panamanian-flagged Ships Tec No.:TEC- 1358 (149kb) Contact:Survey Department Issued:4 Aug 2025 Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) revised their Merchant Marine Circular MMC-217 for Ship-to-ship (STS) operations for Panamanian-flagged ships. Please note the following points on the Ship-to-ship (STS) Operations Plan for Panamanian-flagged ships 1. Applicability All Panamanian-flagged Oil Tankers of 150 gross tonnage and above, engaged in the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers (STS operations) wherever they are located except for followings: ･ Bunkering operations; ･ STS operations within the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone of Panama must follow the provisions of Resolution J.D. No. 038-2022 of 25 August 2022; ･ Oil transfer operations associated with fixed or floating platforms, including drilling rigs; ･ FPSOs used for the offsho
STS Operation for Singapore Flag Ships Tec No.:TEC- 1346 (824kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:14 Feb 2025 Singapore MPA issued Shipping Circular No.16 of 2024 for mid-ocean Ship-to-ship (STS) operations for Singapore-registered ship. Please note the following points on Ship-to-ship (STS) Operations Plan for Singapore-registered ships. 1. If a Singapore-registered ship carry out mid-ocean STS operation, notification procedure to the Flag Administration is required to be included in STS Operations Plan of the ship. Herein, "mid-ocean" means sea area other than the territorial sea, or the exclusive economic zone where notification of STS operations to the Authority is required in Reg.42, Annex I of MARPOL. 2. Ship having approved STS Operations Plan and will carry out mid-ocean STS operation is required to insert pages for notification procedure to the Flag A
Amendments to the IBC/BCH Code & MARPOL 73/78 Annex II which will enter into force on 1 January 2021(For non-Japanese flag ships) Tec No.:TEC- 1195 (1220kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:13 Dec 2019 Amendments to the IBC Code (MSC460(101) / MEPC318(74)), BCH Code (MSC463(101) / MEPC319(74)) and MARPOL 73/78 Annex II (MEPC315(74)) were adopted as noted in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1191 and No.TEC-1192. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2021, and all ships carrying dangerous chemicals and/or noxious liquid substances in bulk need to satisfy the revised requirements prior to the date of entry into force. Considering the impact of the amendments, ClassNK would like to inform of the outline of the amendments as follows; <Major revisions of MARPOL 73/78 Annex II> 1. Prewash requirements for persistent floating products "Persistent floater" has been newly defined in the amendment. And for substances that are persistent floaters
Survey and Certification of Polar Code Tec No.:TEC- 1166 (851kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:9 Nov 2018 As noticed in ClassNK Technical Information TEC-1096, Polar Code entered into force on 1 January 2017 and the certification procedures were introduced. Recently, further clarification of the certification procedures of Polar Ship Certificate for existing ships (specifically, category C cargo ships) has been developed for supplementary information. 1. Application Polar Code is applied to the ships operating in the areas shown in the figure 1-1 and 1-2 in accordance with the table 1. (To be continued)
Periodical Survey in advance of Survey Window Tec No.:TEC- 1136 (86kb) Contact:Classification Department Issued:21 Nov 2017 With entry into force of "International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004", IOPP and/or BWM Certificate (issued by some flag states) may be de-harmonized from Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC). In this case, the ship owners may be required to arrange periodical surveys twice a year, if the survey window of the de-harmonized IOPP and/or BWM Certificate does not overlap enough with the one of other statutory certificates including SC Certificate. As a way to reduce such burden to arrange periodical surveys twice a year, the owners can carry out periodical surveys in advance of the survey window and amend the anniversary date. By amending Anniversary Date, it would become easier to ar
Re-coupling the decoupled IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention) Certificate Renewal Survey Tec No.:TEC- 1125 (28kb) Contact:External Affairs Department Issued:28 Aug 2017 Implementation date for Ballast Water Management Systems according to Ballast Water Management Convention is explained in ClassNK Technical Information No. 1116. Noting the above requirement, some Administrations issued circulars to inform their position on recoupling the IOPP Certificate Renewal Survey, where IOPP renewal survey was completed before 8 September 2014 and its next renewal survey was completed independently from other certificates on or after 8 September 2014. The above mentioned circulars are available on our website. As we receive other circulars of flag Administrations, they will be uploaded on the same page. (To be continued)
An entry-into-force of an international code for ships operating in polar waters (POLAR Code) Tec No.:TEC- 1096 (845kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:27 Dec 2016 POLAR Code has been developed since 2009 for the safety of ships operating in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, which is known as polar waters, and protection of the environment of polar waters, taking into account growing global interest in development of the Arctic sea route and expansion of passenger ships' navigation areas. As a result, safety measures in Part I of the Code, pollution prevention measure in Part II of the Code and amendments to SOLAS, STCW and MARPOL to make the Code mandatory were adopted. 1. In view of the above, the Code will be applied to the ships operating in the areas shown in the figure 1-1 and 1-2 in accordance with the table 1.
De-harmonization of the IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention) Certificate Renewal Survey Tec No.:TEC- 1094 (93kb) Contact:External Affairs Department Issued:16 Dec 2016 As informed by ClassNK Technical Information No. 1085, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) will enter into force on 8 September 2017 and according to IMO Resolution A.1088(28), the implementation deadline for the existing ships to conduct ballast water exchange through Ballast Water Management Systems is the first renewal survey associated with the IOPP Certificate after 8 September 2017. Considering the above and the Harmonized System of Survey & Certification (HSSC), the following flag Administrations issue circulars to inform their position that the IOPP Certificate Renewal Survey may be conducted independently. Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Germany, Gibraltar, I
Regulation 12 of Annex I MARPOL Amended requirements for sludge discharging piping and bilge-water piping Tec No.:TEC- 1080 (812kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:2 Aug 2016 According to the decisions taken at the sixty-eighth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC68) held in May 2015, amendments to MARPOL Annex I were adopted to clarify the scope pf application of the requirements for sludge discharging piping and bilge-water piping specified in regulation 12 of the said Annex, and the amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2017. A summary of the amended requirements is provided as below for your information. 1. Application All new and existing ships of 400 gross tonnage and above are subject to the regulation. 2. Application date Application date of the amended requirements is as follows: (1) for ships the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after
STS Operations Plan for Marshall Islands Flag Ships Tec No.:TEC- 1033 (328kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:10 Jun 2015 ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0834 already provides information about the requirements for STS Operations Plan with approval procedure. In this connection, the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator issued Marine Notice No.2-013-10 for STS Operations Plan provided on Marshall Islands flag ships, summarized as below. - The STS Operations Plan is to be developed taking into account the information contained in the following guidelines instead of IMO's "Manual on Oil Pollution, Section I, Prevention" and, ICS and OCIMF "Ship-to-ship Transfer Guide, Petroleum" fourth edition, 2005 identified in regulation 8 of MARPOL Annex I: IMO's "Manual on Oil Pollution, Section I, Prevention", and CDI/ICS/OCIMF/SIGTTO "Ship-to-Ship Transfer Gu
Prohibition of carriage and use as fuel of heavy grade oils in the Antarctic area (MARPOL Annex I Reg.43) Tec No.:TEC- 844 (80kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:24 Feb 2011 Amendments to MARPOL Annex I [Resolution MEPC.189(60)] was adopted at IMO MEPC 60 on 26 March 2010. This amendment will enter into force on 1 August 2011. On or after that date, the carriage in bulk as cargo or carriage and use as fuel of the following oils will be prohibited in the Antarctic area, as defined in Annex I, regulation 1.11.7. 1. crude oils having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 2. oils, other than crude oils, having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity at 50°C higher than 180 mm2/s; or 3. bitumen, tar and their emulsions When prior operations have included the carriage or use of oils listed above, the cleaning or flushing of tanks or pipelines is not required. For any questions about
STS Operations Plan required by Amendments to MARPOL Annex I (Regulation for the prevention of pollution by oil) (For non-Japanese flag ships) Tec No.:TEC- 834 (280kb) Contact:Hull Department Issued:22 Nov 2010 Resolution MEPC.186(59) was adopted at MEPC 59 and contains a new Chapter 8 to MARPOL Annex I on the prevention of pollution during the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea. The new regulation requires oil tankers of 150 gross tonnage and above engaged in the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea (STS Operations) to have a proper STS Operations Plan approved by the Administration or duly recognized organization (RO) maintained onboard. This ClassNK Technical Information provides information about the requirements of STS Operations Plan with approval procedure by ClassNK. 1. Application Any oil tanker of 150 gross tonnage and above involved in STS Operations (except bunkering operations and oil transfer operations associated with
Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 Oil residue (sludge) service tank listed in the Supplement to IOPP Certificate and new form of the Supplement Tec No.:TEC- 831 (18kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:5 Nov 2010 1. Oil residue (sludge) service tank listed in the Supplement to IOPP Certificate MEPC.187(59), amendments to MARPOL Annex I, which will enter into force on 1 January 2011, defines that "Oil residue (sludge) tank means a tank which holds oil residue (sludge) from which sludge may be disposed directly through the standard discharge connection or any other approved means of disposal". Oil residue (sludge) service tanks (Waste Oil Service Tank, Waste Oil Settling Tank, etc) which holds sludge prior to incineration and has no connection to the standard discharge connection through sludge pump had been understood as they were not "Oil residue (sludge) tanks" and had been listed under paragraph 3.2.3 "Tank for mixing oil residues with fuel oil" of the Supple
IMO Resolution MEPC. 107(49)"Revised Guidelines and Specifications for Pollution Prevention Equipment for Machinery Space Bilges of Ships" Tec No.:TEC- 613 (137kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:15 Dec 2004 Resolution MEPC. 107(49) "Revised Guidelines and Specifications for Pollution Prevention Equipment for Machinery Space Bilges of Ships", which supersedes the recommendations contained in resolution MEPC. 60(33) was adopted at the 49th session of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC. 49) on 18 July 2003 and will implement from 1 January 2005. This technical information provides the outline of Resolution MEPC. 107(49) on the pollution prevention equipment for machinery space bilges (bilge separators and bilge alarms). 1. Application In the resolution MEPC. 107(49) , the application of these Guideline is specified as follows: 1.3 Applicability 1.3.1 These Guidelines and Specifications apply: .1 to installations fitted to ships, the keel of w
----- No English version ----- Tec No.:TEC- 595 (25kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:30 Jul 2004
Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) Tec No.:TEC- 516 (293kb) Contact:Machinery Department Issued:15 Apr 2003 IMO Resolution MEPC.54(32) "Guidelines for The Development of Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans" has been partly amended by Resolution MEPC.86(44) "Amendments to The Guidelines for the Development of Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans". The followings are the major points to be amended in accordance with Resolution MEPC.86(44): 1. The plan should clearly underlined the following: (Res. MEPC.86(44),6) "Without interfering with shipowners' liability, some coastal States consider that it is their responsibility to define techniques and means to be taken against an oil pollution incident and approve such operations which might cause further pollution, I.e., lightening. States are in general entitled to do so under the International Convention
Maintenance and Inspection of Oil Filtering Equipment and Oil Content Meter Taking Account of PSC Inspections Tec No.:TEC- 509 (104kb) Contact:Survey Department Issued:1 Apr 2003 You are probably aware of the recent worldwide moves against marine pollution that have become increasingly strict. A number of deficiencies regarding oil filtering equipment and oil content meters in engine rooms have been pointed out during PSC inspections conducted recently all over the world. There have been ships that were detained for a long term till complete repairs were completed. These deficiencies of oil filtering equipment and oil content meters, were the most common deficiencies on ships classed by ClassNK in 2002 as along with deficiencies of lifeboats. The typical test methods during PSC inspection is as follows: 1. To confirm 0 ppm reading of the oil content meter when fresh water is supplied, where the meter is fitted; 2. To sample the
Piping Arrangement of Bilge Discharge from Machinery Spaces through Oily Water Separators Tec No.:TEC- 405 (141kb) Contact:Survey Department Issued:15 Jul 2001 As you well know, any discharge of oil mixtures with oil content exceeding 15 ppm from the machinery space is prohibited into sea under the Regulations of MARPOL 73/78 Annex I. Furthermore, any ship of 10,000 tons gross tonnage and above shall be provided with arrangements for an alarm and for automatically stopping any discharge of oily mixture when the oil content in effluent exceeds 15 ppm. Therefore, it is not allowed that any discharge pipe is directly connected to overboard discharge line with by-pass from oily water separators. Even if there is no fixed direct discharge piping arrangement, it is, also, prohibited that the discharge piping is connected easily by means of rubber hoes or some portable pipes as a temporary arrangement. However, in case th
An amendment to the Regulations of California for Oil Spill Prevention and Response Tec No.:TEC- 354 (341kb) Contact:External Affairs Department Issued:7 Apr 2000 The regulations of California for oil spill prevention and response, regarding Oil Spill Contingency Plans, which previously only applied to tank vessels, have been amended to also apply to nontank vessels (vessels other than oil tankers). The amendment to the regulation applies to nontank vessels of 300 gross tons or greater entering Californian waters. An outline of the amendment is attached for your reference. The amendment to the regulation has also been posted on the internet home page of the authority in charge located at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/Ospr/regulation/ntvcplans.htm We recommend that the authority (whose address shown below) should be contacted for further information. Mr. Bud Leland Supervisor Marine Safety Branch 1700K Street, Suite 25
A pump used both for an oily water separator and sludge transfer Tec No.:TEC- 172 (75kb) Contact:Survey Department Issued:21 Dec 1995 Recently, several ships have been detained under port state control (PSC) inspections due to dirty condition of an oily water separator for non conformity with the requirements of MARPOL Annex I. The dirty condition of the oily water separator was caused by the bilge pump which was in common use as a sludge pump for sludge transfer. The common use of the pump is acceptable for ships whose keel laid before 31 December 1990, but it should be kept always in clean condition through careful maintenance. Therefore, we would like to recommend you to keep the oily water separators clean giving the following instructions to your masters and chief engineers in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, even detention at PSC. 1. Sludge in sludge tanks should not be disc