Who is responsible for MARPOL compliance within the ship's safety management system?

Who is responsible for MARPOL compliance within the ship's safety management system?

• A. The Chief Engineer.
• B. The Safety Officer.
• C. The Master, with support from the crew and shore-side safety and regulatory bodies.
• D. The Port State Control inspector.

Answer: (C)

The duty to ensure MARPOL compliance sits with the Master, who bears the ultimate responsibility for how the vessel operates in relation to pollution prevention and the ship’s Safety Management System. The Master must ensure that MARPOL procedures are properly carried out, trains and briefs the crew, maintains records, and supervises the use and maintenance of pollution-prevention equipment (like the oily-water separator, ballast water management system, incinerators, and garbage handling). This responsibility is supported by the crew who execute the procedures and by shore-side safety and regulatory bodies—such as the company and its Designated Person Ashore, class societies, and flag authorities—providing policies, training, resources, audits, and oversight to keep the system working and up to date. Port State Control inspectors can verify compliance during inspections, but they do not bear on-board responsibility for MARPOL compliance.

The duty to ensure MARPOL compliance sits with the Master, who bears the ultimate responsibility for how the vessel operates in relation to pollution prevention and the ship’s Safety Management System. The Master must ensure that MARPOL procedures are properly carried out, trains and briefs the crew, maintains records, and supervises the use and maintenance of pollution-prevention equipment (like the oily-water separator, ballast water management system, incinerators, and garbage handling). This responsibility is supported by the crew who execute the procedures and by shore-side safety and regulatory bodies—such as the company and its Designated Person Ashore, class societies, and flag authorities—providing policies, training, resources, audits, and oversight to keep the system working and up to date. Port State Control inspectors can verify compliance during inspections, but they do not bear on-board responsibility for MARPOL compliance.