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1. This circular is issued to highlight the concerns arising from a recent oil spill incident, resulting in environmental pollution, reported on a vessel under IRS classification. The occurrence took place while ballast water treatment system service engineers were engaged in simulation testing of the system for the aft peak tank. A patch of oil observed in the water astern of the vessel, in way of the engine room. The discharge appeared to originate from a location close to one of the ship’s overboard outlets. The occurrence was investigated and found to have originated from contamination within the ballast pipeline, which led to an unintended discharge overboard during system testing.

The incident resulted in an oil spill, leading to environmental pollution in the surrounding waters.

2. The accumulation of oil in ballast line is assessed to have originated from earlier ballasting operations, during which oily bilge water may have inadvertently entered the ballast system through the bilge and ballast pump. Residual contamination remained undetected within the pipeline and was subsequently released during ballast water treatment system simulation testing causing oil spill.

3. Based on lessons learned from this incident, implementing the following measures can significantly mitigate the risk of recurrence:

a. Critical operations such as Bilge and Ballast operations are conducted strictly in accordance with the established procedures set out in the vessel’s Safety Management System (SMS) manual.

b. Prohibiting use of direct bilge suction into ballast lines except under emergency conditions, with proper documentation.

c. Overboard and suction valves are properly labeled, secured, and operated only as per approved procedures.

d. Ensuring mandatory flushing of ballast pipelines after any bilge suction operation undertaken diligently in accordance with established procedures.

e. Ballast lines are positively isolated from bilge lines while undertaking bilge operations.

f. Conducting training sessions to address the risks associated with critical operations, including potential bilge to ballast contamination, ensuring crew awareness and preparedness.

g. Include valve operation protocols in regular safety drills and crew familiarization & training sessions.

h. Maintaining detailed records of valve operations, flushing activities, and ballast/bilge system use.

i. Effective implementation and use of checklists for BWTS simulation and ballast operations. Introduce checklists for BWTS simulation and ballast operations.

j. Periodic audits are undertaken to ensure critical operation such as bilge and ballast are undertaken effectively, non‑conformities if any are identified well in advance and corrective actions enforced.

k. Corrective actions from similar incident and/or near misses are documented, analyzed and lessons learned are circulated fleet wide.

4. Owners & Managers are to take note of above in order that corrective actions be taken to avoid similar situations in future.

Enclosure: NIL

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.                      

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