Download PDF

1. The Administration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines considers the COVID-19 outbreak to be a force majeure and vide attached Circular No. GEN 025-Rev.9, has provided following guidance to assist the the Shipowners/ Ship Operators/ Managers and Recognized Organizations;

a. The EGCS is to be approved by the vessel’s flag State Administration, or a Recognized Organization appointed by the flag State and is to be operated in accordance with IMO requirements, including the IMO 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (resolution MEPC.259 (68)).

b. Crew members must be properly trained in the use of the EGCS and the system must be kept in good working order, with maintenance up to date and monitoring devices fully operational.

c. The EGCS approval documents, as well as operational and maintenance records for the EGCS must be maintained on board the vessel and made available for inspection upon Port State Control Officer (PSCO) request.

d. While the discharge of wash water from EGCS is currently permitted in Australian waters, vessel owners, operators and Masters are encouraged to avoid discharging wash water within Australian port limits.

e. The master, owner or operator of a vessel using an EGCS is required to notify AMSA before the first arrival at an Australian port after installation and approval of the EGCS, and provide the below information to EGCS@amsa.gov.au

a. Vessel name (in email subject title)

b. IMO number

c. Arrival port 

d. Arrival date

e. EGCS scheme A or scheme B approval

f. Make and model of EGCS

g. Open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid-type system

h. Results of all wash water testing that has been undertaken in accordance with 2015 guidelines for EGCS.

The wash water testing mentioned above (h) is to be conducted upon commissioning of the EGCS and repeated every twelve months, as a minimum, for a period of two years.

f. The above information is required to be provided only once, prior to the vessel’s first arrival at an Australian port. There is no need to notify the AMSA for subsequent voyages to Australia unless the information provided to AMSA has changed. Any changes to this information should be provided to EGCS@amsa.gov.au. 

g. Failure to provide the required information to AMSA, may result in denial for the discharge of wash-water from an EGCS in Australian waters.

h. Any EGCS malfunction that lasts more than one hour, or repetitive malfunctions, should be reported to the flag State Administration and Competent Authority of the port State of the vessel's destination. The report should include an explanation of the steps that are being taken to address the failure.

i. If the vessel’s EGCS cannot be returned to a compliant condition within one hour, the vessel must then change over to compliant fuel oil. If the vessel does not have sufficient compliant fuel oil to reach the next port of destination, a report is to be made to the relevant authorities, including the vessel’s flag State Administration and the Competent Authority for the next port of destination. The report must outline the vessel's proposed course of action, which might include bunkering compliant fuel oil at the next port or carrying out repair works. Where this occurs on an Australian Vessel or a Foreign Vessel within Australian waters, this report should be sent to reports@amsa.gov.au.

2. Owners/operators and masters of vessels plying in Australian waters are advised to be guided by above and ensure compliance.

Enclosure:

• AMSA Marine Notice 2/2021 - Requirements for the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems in Australian Waters and reporting to AMSA.

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority. 

             Download PDF