5.1 Oil may enter the dedicated clean ballast
tanks through operational or equipment failure. The following additional
precautions should therefore be observed:
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.1 During the loaded voyage and ballast voyage
periodic checks must be made in the ballast tanks for any hydrocarbon
gas content and if any gas is detected vent the tank until safe for
entry and inspect for leakage in bulkheads and piping.
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.2 If oil is detected in ballast water the latter
should be considered as dirty ballast and be discharged to reception
facilities or at sea during the voyage in compliance with Regulation
9 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78. After discharging contaminated ballast,
washing out clean ballast tanks and flushing of piping, new ballast
may be taken in these tanks.
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.3 If any oil contamination is found in the dedicated
clean ballast tanks the cause should be carefully investigated and
the necessary corrective action, whether a repair, a change in the
operational procedure or a change in the instructions and training,
should be initiated. Any oil contamination in the dedicated clean
ballast tanks should be noted in the Oil Record Book together with
information about the action taken.