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 fixed or floating platforms) is to carry onboard a Plan describing how to conduct STS Operations (STS Operations Plan) not later than the date of the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey of the ship to be carried out on or after 1 January 2011. Each oil tanker's STS Operations Plan is to be approved by the Administration.

2. Requirements for STS Operations Plan
(1). The STS Operations Plan is to be written in the working language of the ship. If the language used in the plan is not English, an English translation is to accompany it.
(2). The STS Operations Plan is to be prepared taking into account the following guidelines identified by IMO:
- IMO's "Manual on Oil Pollution, Section I, Prevention", and
- the ICS and OCIMF "Ship-to-ship Transfer Guide, Petroleum" fourth edition, 2005.

The ship owners or managers or builders of such tankers are kindly requested to submit at least three copies of the STS Operations Plan for each applicable ship in their fleet for approval by ClassNK on behalf of the Administration with a completed application form (see Attachment 1.). Regarding the Authorization for the approval of STS Operations Plan, ClassNK have already received from Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, U.K. In addition, ClassNK are continually received from other flag states. Therefore you are kindly requested to contact ClassNK if you have any inquiries concerning the Authorization. For Panama flag ships, ClassNK received the information that Panama will authorize Recognized Organizations to approve the STS Operations Plan shortly. Accordingly, ClassNK will approve the STS Operations Plan for Panama flag ships.

(To be continued)