GUIDE TO DIAGNOSING CONTAMINANTS IN OILY BILGE WATER

TO MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND TROUBLESHOOT

BILGE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

1
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its fifty-ninth session
(13 to 17 July 2009), noted the outcome of the discussion, during the fifty-second session of the
Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment, on the proposed Guide to diagnosing
contaminants in oily bilge water to maintain, operate and troubleshoot bilge water treatment
systems developed by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST),
and in particular, noted the Sub-Committees view that the Guide could be an excellent tool to
help engine-room crews to comply with MARPOL requirements.
2
The Committee noted also that, in order to refine the current text, further consideration
would be beneficial and should be pursued through the DE Sub-Committee. However,
recognizing the usefulness of the information contained in the Guide as a means to address the
most common system maintenance and operations problems leading to equipment failure, the
Committee agreed to disseminate the Guide (MEPC 59/24, paragraphs 10.28 and 10.29), attached
at annex, as an MEPC circular for the benefit of all those dealing with operations and
maintenance of oily bilge water treatment systems in port or on board ships.
3
Member Governments are invited to bring this circular to the attention of all interested
parties, especially shipboard personnel sailing in ships flying their flags.