Section 2 ENV characters

2.1.1 For assignment of the A character, the anti-fouling system applied to the ship’s hull is to be listed as biocide-free in the Lloyd’s Register List of Approved Products.

2.1.2 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

2.2.1 For assignment of the ABN character, the vessel’s airborne noise is to be measured and certified in accordance with LR’s ShipRight Additional Design and Construction Procedure for the determination of airborne noise emissions from marine vessels. The limits are to be set by the applicant, or in accordance with the nominated limit set within the ShipRight procedure.

2.2.2 This notation is intended to provide a measurement of the airborne noise emissions for operation in environmentally sensitive or commercially restricted areas and is not intended to provide a means of managing noise emissions for military purposes.

2.3.1 For assignment of the GW character where a plant for the treatment of grey water is installed, the plant discharge effluent is to meet the standards specified in Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.3 Grey water and sewage – GW character 2.3.4 or Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.3 Grey water and sewage – GW character 2.3.5, as applicable. The GW character will also be assigned where grey water is retained on board in dedicated holding tank(s) for discharge ashore, subject to the requirements specified in Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.3 Grey water and sewage – GW character 2.3.6 to Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.3 Grey water and sewage – GW character 2.3.10 being met.

2.3.2 The capacity of the sewage treatment system is to be sufficient for the maximum number of persons on board. The minimum capacity is to be 15 litres/day/person for black water and 135 litres/day/person for grey water.

2.3.3 Spaces containing sewage treatment plant shall be fitted with a gas detection system in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 11 Gas detection.

2.3.4 Where it is not intended that the effluent be recycled or re-used for any purpose, the effluent of the grey water treatment plant is to meet the following standards:

1. Thermotolerant coliforms:

   The geometric mean of the thermotolerant coliform count of samples of effluent taken during a test period is not to exceed 100 thermotolerant coliforms/100 ml as determined by membrane filter, multiple tube fermentation or an equivalent analytical procedure.

2. Total suspended solids:

   • Where the equipment is tested on shore, the geometric mean of the total suspended solids content of the samples of effluent taken during the test period is not to exceed 35 mg/l;
   • Where the equipment is tested on board the ship, the geometric mean of the total suspended solids content of the samples of effluent taken during the test period is not to exceed the suspended solids content of the ambient (flushing) water used on board plus 35 mg/l.
     The method of testing is to be as given in Resolution MEPC.159(55) - Revised Guidelines on Implementation of Effluent Standards and Performance Tests for Sewage Treatment Plants - (Adopted on 13 October 2006).

3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD):

   • The geometric mean of a 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) is not to exceed 25 mg/l. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) is not to exceed 125 mg/l. Test methods are to be ISO 15705:2002 for COD and ISO 5815-1:2003 for carbonaceous BOD5 or other internationally accepted equivalent test standards.

4. pH: the pH of the samples of effluent taken during the test period is to be between 6 and 8,5.

5. Zero or non-detected values: for thermotolerant coliforms, zero values are to be replaced with a value of 1 thermotolerant coliform/100 ml to allow the calculation of the geometric mean. For total suspended solids, BOD5 and COD values below the limit of detection are to be replaced with one half the limit of detection to allow the calculation of the geometric mean.

2.3.5 Where it is intended that the effluent of the grey water treatment plant be re-used or recycled for any purpose, the effluent is to meet the potable water quality standards of the Naval Administration.

2.3.6 As an alternative to treatment, where grey water is retained on board in dedicated holding tank(s) for discharge ashore, the holding tank(s) is to be of adequate capacity, taking into account the operation of the ship, the number of persons on board and other relevant factors. Each tank is to be fitted with a means to open the tank, means to verify visually the contents of the tank and a high level alarm.

2.3.7 Means are to be provided to aerate the tanks to prevent the development of anaerobic conditions, taking into account MSC/Circular.648 – Guidelines for the Operation, Inspection and Maintenance of Ship Sewage Systems – (Adopted on 6 June 1994) .

2.3.8 Ventilation pipes from the grey water treatment system and, where provided, from holding tank(s) are to be independent of other ventilation systems.

2.3.9 A suitable piping system from the grey water treatment system or holding tank(s) is to be provided to allow discharge to shore reception facilities. The discharge pipe is to terminate with a standard discharge connection complying with the requirements of Regulation 10 - Standard Discharge Connections. Any connection from the grey water system to the sewage discharge is to be via a screw-down non-return valve.

2.3.10 Records of grey water treatment and/or discharge are to be maintained. A single record book may be utilised for both grey water and sewage records. Records detailing discharges from the holding tank(s) are to include:

1. the date, location and quantity of grey water discharged from the holding tank(s) either ashore or at sea;

2. rate of discharge of untreated grey water;

3. distance from land and ship’s speed, when untreated grey water is discharged to sea.

2.3.11 Procedures for the cleaning and safe entry of grey water treatment systems and holding tanks, including the use of suitable personal protective equipment, are to be provided and implemented.

2.3.12 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

1. Drawings showing the grey water and sewage system arrangements;

2. Treatment system manual and documentation demonstrating that the grey water system meets the requirements for thermotolerant coliforms, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and pH (if treatment system fitted);

3. Document showing the grey water holding tank is of adequate capacity.

2.4.1 The IHM character will be assigned when the requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and/or EU Ship Recycling Regulation 1257/2013, as outlined in the LR ShipRightProcedure to obtain IHM (Inventory of Hazardous Materials) certification, have been satisfied.

2.4.2 The ShipRightProcedure to obtain IHM (Inventory of Hazardous Materials) certification (see Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.4 Inventory of Hazardous Materials – IHM character 2.4.1) provides information on the compilation of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials and subsequent onboard verification survey and certification offered by LR.

2.4.3 The ShipRight Procedure also includes procedures to be established and implemented for the maintenance of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials throughout the ship’s life. These maintenance procedures are to be established and implemented to address new installations containing hazardous materials specified in Appendices 1 and 2 of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and/or those specified in the EU Ship Recycling Regulation 1257/2013, and relevant changes to the ship’s structure and fitted equipment.

2.4.4 In addition to the requirements of the ShipRight Procedure, where applicable, additional Naval Administration requirements shall be considered. In such cases details are to be provided in the tailoring document.

2.4.5 The ShipRight Procedure is intended to provide compliance with the relevant recycling legislation for the safe and environmentally friendly recycling of ships. It is not intended to provide procedures for the management of all substances hazardous to human health. Separate arrangements will be required to satisfy such Naval Administration requirements.

2.5.1 For assignment of the MRV character, CO₂ emissions are to be monitored, reported and verified, in accordance with the EU Regulation 2015/757.

2.5.2 The MRV Plan is to be reviewed and CO₂ emissions independently verified by LR.

2.6.1 There are no specific requirements relating to NOx emissions from boilers, incinerators or gas turbine installations.

2.6.2 For assignment of the NOx-3 character, all installed engines with an individual output power greater than 130 kW, other than those used solely for emergency purposes, and associated NO_x emission abatement systems are to be certified as meeting the Tier 3 NO_x emission limits specified in Regulation 13 – Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).

2.6.3 Equipment and systems used to control NO_x emission levels are to:

1. be arranged so that failure will not prevent continued safe operation of the engine;

2. be operated in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions;

3. be designed, constructed and installed to ensure structure integrity and freedom from significant vibration;

4. be designed to include adequate hatches for inspection and maintenance purposes; and

5. be instrumented to record operation. Records of operation and the degree of control are to be maintained.

Alternative control arrangements will be given special consideration.

2.6.4 Procedures covering the use and maintenance of the equipment and systems used to control NO_x are to be established and implemented. Records are to be maintained which demonstrate the operation of the equipment and systems and the resultant level of NO_x emissions to the atmosphere.

2.7.1 For assignment of the OW character, the loading or discharge connections and vent pipes/overflows associated with fuel oils, lubricating oils, hydraulic oils and other oils are to be fitted with drip trays. Drip trays fitted to loading or discharge connections are to be fitted with closed drainage systems except on tankers, where alternative arrangements will be considered.

2.7.2 Fuel oil storage, settling and service tanks are to be fitted with high level alarms and/or acceptable overflow systems.

2.7.3 Procedures covering the handling of all oils and oily wastes are to be established and implemented. As a minimum, these are to cover:

1. loading, storage and transfer of fuel oils, lubricants, hydraulic oil, thermal heating oil and drummed oil products;

2. storage, transfer, discharge and disposal of oily mixtures contained in the bilge holding and waste oil tanks and machinery space bilges;

3. recovery of any oil spilled on decks.

2.7.4 All drainage from machinery space bilges is to be discharged ashore, except under exceptional circumstances.

2.7.5 Adequate capacity for storage of oily bilge water between discharges ashore is to be provided.

2.7.6 As an alternative to discharging bilges ashore, discharge to sea is permitted where it can be demonstrated that the oil-on-water content of the water discharged is less than 5 ppm. In this case, the bilge alarm, set at 5 ppm, is to be recalibrated or retested every five years by the manufacturer, or other acceptable alternative, and full records of the recalibration or retesting are to be kept on board.

2.7.7 Full records of all oily water discharges to shore and to sea are to be kept.

2.7.8 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

1. Drawings showing the arrangements of non-cargo oil loading and discharge connections, and tank vent pipes/overflows associated with fuel oils, together with associated drip trays and drainage systems;

2. Drawings showing the fuel oil storage, settling and service tank high level alarms/overflow systems;

3. Drawings showing the bilge holding, waste oil and sludge tank capacities and piping arrangements;

4. Oil spill prevention procedures including list of equipment provided for the collection and recovery of spilled oil;

5. Explanation of the provision that has been made for storage of oily bilge water (for ships that discharge oily water ashore);

6. Type approval certificate for the oily water separator (for ships that discharge oily water to sea).

2.8.1 For the assignment of the P character, all fuel oil tanks, lubricating oil tanks and hydraulic oil tanks are to be located in a protected location away from the ship’s side or bottom shell plating.

2.8.2 The location of tanks is to be in accordance with the requirements relating to fuel oil tank protection given in MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 12A.

2.8.3 Main engine lubricating oil drain tanks and fuel overflow tanks are excluded.

2.8.4 Arrangements providing equivalent protection will be given special consideration.

2.8.5 Suction wells may protrude below fuel oil tanks provided they are as small as possible and the distance between the tank bottom and the ship’s bottom shell plating is not reduced by more than 50 per cent.

2.8.6 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

• Drawings showing the arrangement of fuel oil, lubricating oil and hydraulic oil tanks and associated suction wells.

2.9.1 These requirements apply to all permanently installed refrigeration and air-conditioning installations on board with more than 3 kg of refrigerant. These requirements do not apply to stand-alone refrigerators, freezers and ice makers used in galleys, pantries, bars and crew accommodation.

2.9.2 The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in existing and new refrigeration or air conditioning installations is prohibited.

2.9.3 Where possible, natural refrigerants, such as ammonia and carbon dioxide, or hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), should be used. Where hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are used, they are to have an Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) rating of zero and a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 1000, based on a 100-year time horizon.

2.9.4 Systems are to be arranged with suitable means of isolation so that maintenance, servicing or repair work may be undertaken without releasing the refrigerant charge into the atmosphere. Unavoidable minimal releases are acceptable when using recovery units.

2.9.5 For the purposes of refrigerant recovery, the compressors are to be capable of evacuating a system charge into a liquid receiver. Additionally, recovery units are to be provided to evacuate a system either into the existing liquid receiver or into cylinders dedicated to this purpose. The number of cylinders is to be sufficient to contain the complete charge between points of isolation in the system.

2.9.6 Where different refrigerants are in use they are not to be mixed during evacuation of systems.

2.9.7 Refrigerant leakage is to be minimised by leak prevention and periodic leak detection procedures. The frequency of leak detection and the maximum allowable annual leakage rate is dependent on the charge of each system and is specified in Table 2.2.1 Refrigerant leak testing - Maximum periodicity.

2.9.8 Records are to be maintained demonstrating that leak testing is carried out, in accordance with the periodicity specified in Table 2.2.1 Refrigerant leak testing - Maximum periodicity, by qualified personnel holding relevant certification, using either direct or indirect measuring methods and calibrated instruments where applicable.

2.9.9 A leak detection system in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 11 Gas detection, appropriate to the refrigerant is to be provided to monitor continuously the spaces into which the refrigerant could leak. An alarm is to be activated to give warning in a permanently manned location when the concentration of refrigerant in the space exceeds a predetermined limit (25 ppm for ammonia, 300 ppm for halogenated fluorocarbons). Remedial measures to repair the leakage are to be implemented as soon as practicable after an alarm is activated. Each leak detection system is to be checked at least once every 12 months to ensure proper functionality. The system is to be maintained and calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and recorded in the log book.

2.9.10 Procedures for refrigerant management, including adding and recovering refrigerant charge, leak detection and the means adopted to control the loss and leakage of refrigerants, are to be established and implemented.

2.9.11 Refrigerant inventory and log book records are to be maintained, covering:

1. Refrigerant added to each system.

2. Refrigerant leaks, including remedial actions.

3. Refrigerant recovered and storage location.

4. Refrigerant disposal including quantity and location.

5. Details of personnel suitably experienced or with an applicable qualification for maintenance of the onboard refrigerant system(s), including relevant certification.

2.9.12 After a leak has been identified, repaired and recorded, it is to be rechecked prior to the system entering normal service. All applications, independent of charge size, are to be checked for leakage within one month after a leak has been repaired to ensure that the repair remains effective.

2.9.13 Records demonstrating the implementation of the operational procedures specified in Vol 3, Pt 3, Ch 2, 2.9 Refrigeration systems, RS character 2.9.16, as applicable, are to be maintained. These records are to be kept on board for a minimum period of three years, in a readily accessible form, and are to be available for inspection by LR Surveyors, as required.

2.9.14 A refrigerant log book is to be maintained for the lifetime of the system. It must record the quantity and type of refrigerant installed and the quantities added and recovered during servicing, maintenance and final disposal.

2.9.15 All personnel involved in the following activities must be suitably experienced or possess an applicable qualification:

1. installation, servicing or maintenance of the refrigeration equipment covered by the ENV Notation;

2. checking such equipment for any leakages of refrigerant gases; or

3. repairing, or carrying out work to prevent, such leakages.

2.9.16 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

1. Details and location of each permanently installed refrigeration system. Mass of refrigerant charge in each system and the refrigerant designation (e.g. R-134a);

2. Refrigeration plant general arrangement drawing showing the number and location of refrigerant leak detectors;

3. Sample refrigerant leak testing record book;

4. Refrigerant plant general arrangement drawing showing the number and location of leak detectors;

5. Operational procedure for refrigerant management including adding and recovering refrigerant charge, leak detection and sample log book;

6. Sample refrigerant inventory and log book.

2.10.1 For assignment of the SOx character, all fuel used on board is to be:

1. distillate with a sulphur content not exceeding 0,10 per cent m/m; or

2. an alternative fuel or a hybrid fuel management solution which has a resulting sulphur content which is not to exceed 0,10 per cent sulphur m/m.

2.10.2 A fuel oil management system is to detail the maximum sulphur content to be specified when ordering fuel oils and the means adopted to verify that the sulphur content of fuel oils supplied meets that requirement.

2.10.3 Where testing to determine the sulphur content of fuel received on board is to be carried out, a representative sample is to be drawn at the time of delivery from the ship’s bunker manifold using the manual or automatic sampling methods defined in ISO 3170 or 3171, or their national respective equivalents. Fuel sulphur content is to be subsequently determined using the laboratory test method ISO 8754:2003: Determination of sulphur content – Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

2.10.4 Alternative arrangements providing an equivalent level of environmental protection will be considered for the assignment of the SOx character. If an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System is fitted, it is to be certified to Resolution MEPC.259(68) - 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems - (Adopted on 15 May 2015). These systems are to operate at all times regardless of the emission control area in which the vessel operates.

2.10.5 The following plans and documents are to be submitted:

• Bunker specification that will be used to purchase fuel for the ship.

2.11.1 For assignment of the UWN character, the underwater radiated noise is to be measured and certified in accordance with LR’s ShipRight Procedure Additional Design and Construction Procedure for the Determination of a Vessel’s Underwater Radiated Noise. The limits are to be set by the applicant, or in accordance with the nominated limit set within the ShipRight Procedure.

2.11.2 This notation is intended to provide a measurement of the underwater radiated noise for operation in environmentally sensitive areas and is not intended to provide a means of managing underwater noise radiation for military purposes, see also Vol 1, Pt 4, Ch 1, 8 Design guidance for the reduction of radiated noise underwater due to sea inlets or other openings.