It is vitally important when carrying out any bunker or oil transfer operations that all personnel involved in the operation are familiar with the bunker system. Only people who are competent to operate valves and plant should be allowed to do so. All bunkering and transfer operations must be carefully planned and good communication maintained between all on board ship and ashore. A bunker checklist should be produced for each individual member of the ship's personnel involved in the operation and this must be completed prior to any bunker or transfer operation. Any such checklist should include the availability of oil spill response kits, the use of deck scupper plugs, clean-up equipment, sawdust, emergency contact numbers and oil spill response readiness.
Careful planning is vital if pollution incidents are to be avoided.
If an incident does occur then a swift and competent response is the only way to limit the extent of damage caused. A 9,000 GT ro-ro ship was alongside in a European port during the day time on a fine day with little wind. During an internal oil transfer of sludge from the sludge tank to a waste oil tank approximately 100 litres of oily water overflowed from an air vent and spilled into the harbour. The sludge tank had a capacity of 20 m 3 . The Chief Engineer decided to transfer 10 m 3 of oily water from the tank to a small waste oil tank.