1 If the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a tanker are to
be regulated in a port or ports or a terminal or terminals under the jurisdiction of a
Party, they shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
2 A Party regulating tankers for VOC emissions shall submit a notification
to the Organization.footnote This notification shall include information on the size of
tankers to be controlled, the cargoes requiring vapour emission control systems and the
effective date of such control. The notification shall be submitted at least six months
before the effective date.
3 A Party that designates ports or terminals at which VOC emissions from
tankers are to be regulated shall ensure that vapour emission control systems, approved
by that Party taking into account the safety standards for such systems developed by the
Organization,footnote are provided in any designated port and terminal and are
operated safely and in a manner so as to avoid undue delay to a ship.
4 The Organization shall circulate a list of the ports and terminals
designated by Parties to other Parties and Member States of the Organization for their
information.
5 A tanker to which paragraph 1 of this regulation applies shall be provided
with a vapour emission collection system approved by the Administration taking into
account the safety standards for such systems developed by the Organization,footnote and shall use this system during the loading of relevant
cargoes. A port or terminal that has installed vapour emission control systems in
accordance with this regulation may accept tankers that are not fitted with vapour
collection systems for a period of three years after the effective date identified in
paragraph 2 of this regulation.
6 A tanker carrying crude oil shall have on board and implement a VOC
management plan approved by the Administration.footnote Such a plan shall be prepared taking into account the
guidelines developed by the Organization. The plan shall be specific to each ship and
shall at least:
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.1 provide written procedures for minimizing VOC emissions during the
loading, sea passage and discharge of cargo;
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.2 give consideration to the additional VOC generated by crude oil
washing;
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.3 identify a person responsible for implementing the plan; and
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.4 for ships on international voyages, be written in the working
language of the master and officers and, if the working language of the master and
officers is not English, French or Spanish, include a translation into one of
these languages.
7 This regulation shall also apply to gas carriers only if the types of
loading and containment systems allow safe retention of non-methane VOCs on board or
their safe return ashore.footnote