IOPP Certificate Rules for Philippine Vessels

Applies to all Philippine registered vessels engaged in international or domestic trade.

Establishes the procedure for issuing IOPPC to Philippine registered ships to ensure compliance with oil pollution prevention standards.

Oil Tanker: Ships constructed/adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk or noxious liquid substances.
Product Carrier: Oil tanker carrying oil products other than crude oil.
Segregated Ballast Tank: Tank separated from cargo oil tanks, dedicated for ballast or non-oil cargoes.
Dedicated Clean Ballast Tank: Tank constructed for ballast that does not cause visible oil pollution.
Oily-Water Separating Equipment (OWS): Equipment designed to produce effluent with less than 15 ppm oil content.
Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCS): System recording oil discharge rates and quantities, required on oil tankers 150 GT and above.
Cargo Tank Cleaning System: Crude oil washing system on crude oil tankers 20,000 DWT and above.
New Ship: Ships built or contracted after specific dates post-1995 or major conversions.
Existing Ship: Ships not classified as new.

Ships 400 to less than 10,000 GT:
- Must have OWS producing effluent <15 ppm oil.
- Adequate tanks for oily residues/sludge.
- Maintain Oil Record Book (ORB).
Ships 10,000 GT and above:
- Must have ODMCS in addition to OWS.
- Adequate sludge tanks.
- Maintain Oil Record Book.
Ships under 400 GRT:
- Must have holding tanks for oil bilge water retention.
All OWS equipment must be Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) approved.
Certain equipment requirements may be waived under specific conditions.

Oil tankers 150 GT and above:
- Must have ODMCS plus OWS approved by PCG.
Oil tankers less than 150 GT:
- Must retain oil onboard with subsequent discharge to reception facilities.
Existing oil tankers 40,000 DWT and above (international voyage):
- Must have segregated ballast tanks or use crude oil washing or dedicated clean ballast tanks.
New oil tankers 20,000 DWT and above:
- Segregated ballast tanks and crude oil washing mandatory.
Dedicated clean ballast tank oil tankers must have:
- PCG-approved oil content meter.
- Operational manuals and oil record book supplements.

New product carriers 30,000 DWT and above:
- Must have segregated ballast tanks.
Existing product carriers 40,000 DWT and above:
- Segregated or dedicated clean ballast tanks with PCG-approved oil content meter.
- Required operation manual and oil record book supplement.

Shipowners submit written applications to Commander, Marine Environmental Protection Command (CMEPCOM).
Initial survey by Coast Guard District or Marine Safety Officer before ship's service.
No structural or equipment changes post-survey without PCG written consent.
Classification societies may be accredited to conduct surveys.
Certificates issued by PCG for international voyages; CMEPCOM for domestic trade.
Periodical surveys every two years mandatory; failure to comply may suspend certificates.
Certificates valid 5 years, with possible 3-month extensions only under specific voyage completion circumstances.
Certificates cease on expiration or unauthorized significant alterations.

Waivers for OWS and ODMCS may be granted under strict conditions related to voyage length, retention of oily mixtures, and availability of reception facilities.
Applications must include affidavits by ship master and owner/charter party.
Inspections of vessels and reception facilities conducted within 15 days.
Marine Environmental Research and Development Center issues inspection memos.
CMEPCOM may grant, conditionally grant, or deny waivers; denials bar reapplication for one year.

Law effective 15 days after filing with the University of the Philippines Law Center.