8. Environmental Protection

The problem of marine environment protection is one of the most important today. At least 6 million tons of oil and oil products are discharged into the oceans annually. 35% of the oil pollution is generated by ships. The remaining 65% is caused by natural seepage, atmospheric fallout, off-shore production, coastal facilities and land run-off.

Pollution is a serious threat to the life of people and other living creatures including vegetation.

That's why the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships is considered to be a very important document. Special organizations in almost all countries to control the effective execution of the rules. The duty of the staff of these organizations is to investigate the cause of pollution and inspect the equipment aboard vessels. Only 3% of oil discharged into the oceans annually is caused by accidents.

Most of the marine pollution from ships is the result of routine operating practices: cleaning cargo tanks, discharging sea-water ballast, engine-room bilges and so on. For tankers, the use of crude oil washing during unloading and the proper use of on-board equipment greatly reduce the pollution from ship. Ship's equipment for the prevention of marine pollution may include an oil filtering system, tanks for oil residues, slop tanks, an oil discharge monitoring and control system, an oil-water separator, a bilge water separator, a sewage treatment plant, an incinerator. Special equipment prevents any discharge of oily water into the sea.