A properly functioning Oily Water Separator (OWS) is needed to ensure compliance with MARPOL. The OWS controls operational discharges overboard of waste water that accumulates in bilge water in machinery spaces.
An understanding of both the oil-water separating equipment and shipboard wastes that enter the bilge is necessary to properly manage onboard bilge water and oily waste. The OWS is a subset of the larger oil pollution abatement system (OPAS)--- a system that collects, transfers, and processes all the oily waste generated during a ship's normal service and allows overboard discharge of waters meeting legal requirements. In order for the OPAS function properly a sound and responsive shipboard and company management structure must be in place as well.
The mission of panel EC-3 is to research and identify the range of problems of shipboard oily wastewater and bilge water management systems by working in partnership with responsible agencies, companies, and organizations to develop workable and technically grounded solutions.
EC-3 has been project focused based on the expertise and interest of its members. The first project was a comprehensive study of contaminants in bilge water that impede the operation of an OWS and frustrate crews and ship owners and operators. T&R bulletin 6-1 Guide to Diagnosing Contaminants in Oily Bilge Water: Operation and Maintenance of Bilge Water Treatment Systems was published in 2009 and later adopted by the International Maritime Organization as
IMO MEPC Circular 677.
EC-3 partnered with ASTM to revise and expand the ASTM OWS procurement Standard Specification for Shipboard Oil Pollution Abatement System. The draft was completed in April 2011 and is currently under review by ASTM for adoption.
Two other projects are in the pipeline: A T&R bulletin that will provide guidance for the development of a shipboard oily waste management plan; and a technical paper on criteria for selecting an OWS based on the physical chemistry of on-board bilge water.
Bruce Russell (JS&A Environmental Services, Inc) and
Haluk Alper (MYCELX) are co-chairs.