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Environmental complianceLesson 3 of 6

The Oil Record Book and magic pipe cases

You will be able to write and check Oil Record Book entries with the right codes, and spot the inconsistencies that turn an inspection into a prosecution.

15 minutes · For signed-up learners, free · Rules checked 20 October 2026

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Almost every “magic pipe” prosecution is, in law, a records case. The discharge happened far out at sea, often in another country’s waters; what the prosecutor can prove is that the Oil Record Book presented to the inspector in port was false. In February 2025 the owner and operator of the bulk carrier ASL Singapore pleaded guilty in New Orleans to violating the US Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and to obstruction of justice. A routine Coast Guard inspection had found a portable pump and flexible hose used to dump oily bilge water straight from the holding tank since at least June 2023. The crew had handed over Oil Record Books “knowing they contained fraudulent entries”. The companies paid US$1.85 million and are banned from operating in the United States.5

The same book, kept honestly, is what protects a ship when a slick appears nearby or a disgruntled crew member makes an allegation. This lesson shows how to keep Part I to the IMO guidance, what an electronic record book must do, and which inconsistencies inspectors look for.

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The rest of this lesson, the interactive Engine-room records check before a US port call and the quiz are open to signed-up learners. It's free, takes a minute, and opens every lesson in all 14 courses.

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In this lesson

  • Try it: Engine-room records check before a US port call
  • In plain words
  • In detail
  • What the rules say
  • Flag and class notes
  • Key numbers
  • What inspectors find
  • Questions people ask
  • Quiz: 6 questions

Sources

  1. 1 MARPOL Annex I (revised by resolution MEPC.117(52)), regulation 17, Oil Record Book Part I, paragraphs 1 to 7. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.117(52).pdf
  2. 2 IMO MEPC.1/Circ.736/Rev.2, Guidance for the recording of operations in the Oil Record Book Part I, Machinery space operations (all ships), 6 October 2011, annex: general guidance and examples 1 to 27. https://www.westpandi.com/getmedia/66fb9134-63d6-4d36-8997-d9bce7fa2ccf/736-Rev-2.pdf
  3. 3 IMO Resolution MEPC.314(74), Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II and V (Electronic Record Books), adopted 17 May 2019, in force 1 October 2020, annex paragraphs 2 and 3. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.314(74).pdf
  4. 4 IMO Resolution MEPC.312(74), Guidelines for the use of electronic record books under MARPOL (adopted 17 May 2019), annex paragraphs 4.1.4, 4.3.2 to 4.3.5 and 5.1. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.312(74).pdf
  5. 5 US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana, Companies That Own and Operate Bulk Carrier Guilty, Sentenced For Environmental Crimes (M/V ASL Singapore), 24 February 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/companies-own-and-operate-bulk-carrier-guilty-sentenced-environmental-crimes
  6. 6 US Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Tank Vessel Operator Convicted and Sentenced for Oil Discharge Offense, Vessel Captain Indicted (Ridgebury Alexandra Z), 14 February 2019. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/tank-vessel-operator-convicted-and-sentenced-oil-discharge-offense-vessel-captain-indicted
  7. 7 US Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Princess Cruise Lines to Pay Largest-Ever Criminal Penalty for Deliberate Vessel Pollution, 1 December 2016. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/princess-cruise-lines-pay-largest-ever-criminal-penalty-deliberate-vessel-pollution
  8. 8 United States Code, title 33, section 1908(a) (Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, criminal penalties and award to informants). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/33/1908
  9. 9 Liberia Maritime Authority, Marine Notice POL-001 Rev. 11/24, Prevention of Pollution from Ships, section 2, item .7 (Oil Record Book Part I and II). https://www.liscr.com/sites/default/files/online_library/POL-001.pdf
  10. 10 IMO Resolution MEPC.107(49), Revised guidelines and specifications for pollution prevention equipment for machinery space bilges of ships (adopted 18 July 2003), annex paragraphs 4.2.9 and 4.2.10. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.107(49).pdf
  11. 11 MARPOL Annex I (revised by resolution MEPC.117(52)), regulation 15, Control of discharge of oil. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.117(52).pdf
  12. 12 MARPOL Annex I (revised by resolution MEPC.117(52)), regulation 12, Tanks for oil residues (sludge). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.117(52).pdf
  13. 13 IMO Resolution MEPC.285(70), Amendments to the revised guidelines and specifications for pollution prevention equipment for machinery space bilges of ships (adopted 28 October 2016), annex paragraph 3 (new paragraph 4.2.11). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.285(70).pdf

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