14.1 Tanks that were crude oil washed at sea will
be recorded in the Oil Record Book. These tanks must be left empty
between discharge ports for inspection at the next discharge port.
Where these tanks are the designated departure ballast tanks they
may be required to be ballasted at a very early stage of the discharge.
This is for operational reasons and also because they must be ballasted
during cargo discharge if hydrocarbon emission is to be contained
on the ship. If these tanks are to be inspected when empty, this must
be done shortly after the tanker berths. If an inspector arrives after
the tanks have begun accepting ballast, the sounding of the tank bottom
will not be available to him. However, an examination of the surface
of the ballast water is then possible. The thickness of the oil film
should not be greater than specified in paragraph 4.2.10(b) of the
Revised Specifications.
14.2 The tanks that are designated ballast tanks
will be listed in the Manual. It is, however, left to the discretion
of the master or responsible officer to decide which tanks may be
used for ballast on the forthcoming voyage. It should be determined
from the Oil Record Book that all such tanks have been washed before
the tanker leaves its last discharge port. It should be noted that
where a tanker back-loads a cargo of crude oil at an intermediate
port into tanks designated for ballast then it should not be required
to wash those tanks at that particular port but at a subsequent port.
14.3 It should be determined from the Oil Record
Book that additional ballast water has not been put into tanks which
had not been crude oil washed during previous voyages.
14.4 It should be seen that the departure ballast
tanks are stripped as completely as possible. Where departure ballast
is filled through cargo lines and pumps, these must be stripped either
into another cargo tank or ashore by the special small-diameter line
provided for this purpose.
14.5 The methods of avoiding vapour emission where
locally required will be specified in the Manual and they must be
adhered to. The inspector should ensure that this is being complied
with.
14.6 The typical procedures for ballasting listed
in the Operations and Equipment Manual must be observed. The inspector
should ensure this is being complied with.
14.7 When departure ballast is to be shifted,
the discharge into the sea must be in compliance with regulation 9
of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78. The Oil Record Book should be inspected
to ensure that the vessel is complying with this.