What is MARPOL compliance?

• A. MARPOL compliance covers pollution prevention rules for ships, including oil, chemicals, garbage, ballast water.
• B. Crew licensing requirements.
• C. Harbor fees and routing.
• D. Engine maintenance schedules.

Answer: (A)

MARPOL compliance means following international rules to prevent pollution from ships. It sets pollution-prevention requirements across several areas, including oil pollution, chemical pollution, garbage disposal, and ballast water management, so ships must discharge or handle these substances according to approved practices and keep proper records. In practice, this means ships carry the right equipment, follow prescribed discharge limits, and maintain certificates and logs to prove compliance. The other topics listed—crew licensing, harbor fees and routing, and engine maintenance schedules—are not what MARPOL governs, since MARPOL focuses on preventing pollution rather than personnel licensing, port charges, or routine maintenance timing.