ANNEX 9
DRAFT MEPC CIRCULAR
INTERPRETATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION OF HYDROSTATIC
BALANCE LOADING IN CARGO TANKS (RESOLUTION MEPC.64(36))
1 The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its
forty-first session (30 March to 3 April 1998), noted that a
large number of tankers of 25 years of age and over would
potentially use the hydrostatic balance loading operational
alternative which is permitted by MARPOL regulation I/1 3
G(7), in order to continue to trade for another five years,
and recognized that there was a need to develop a unified
interpretation with the purpose of avoiding any potential
problems which might arise with the hydrostatic balance
loading.
2 Subsequently, the Committee, [at its forty-second
session (2 to 6 November 1998),] having 2 considered the
recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and
Gases, at its third session, regarding IACS Unified
Interpretation MPC 7 "Hydrostatic Balance Loading",
agreed to circulate this Unified Interpretation to Member
Governments, as set out in the annex, subject to the
following clarifications :
1 all ballast tanks should be assumed empty when
calculating EOS1 and EOS2, whereas ballast water
allocation may be considered when calculating EOS3; and
2 it is understood that ballast water may be taken
on board during the voyage in order to maintain the
draughts necessary for compliance and to satisfy trim,
stability, strength and other requirements .
3 Member Governments are invited to use the annexed
Interpretation together with the above clarifications when
applying the provisions of the Guidelines for approval of
alternative structural or operational arrangements, as called
for in regulation 13G(7) of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78
(resolution MEPC.64(36)), to tankers of 25 years of age and
over referred to in regulation 13G(4) of Annex I to MARPOL
73/78.
