View source for Earth:Oil Pollution Act of 1973

{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| shorttitle        = Oil Pollution Act of 1973
| othershorttitles  =
| longtitle         = An Act to amend the Oil Pollution Act, 1961 (75 Stat. 402), as amended, to implement the 1969 and 1971 amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954, as amended; and for other purposes.
| colloquialacronym = 
| nickname          = Oil Pollution Act Amendments of 1973
| enacted by        = 93rd
| effective date    = October 4, 1973
| public law url    = http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-87/pdf/STATUTE-87-Pg424-2.pdf
| cite public law   = 93-119
| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|87|424-2}}
| acts amended    = [[Earth:Oil Pollution Act of 1961|Oil Pollution Act of 1961]]
| acts repealed   = 
| title amended   = 33 U.S.C.: Navigable Waters
| sections created = <!--{{USC}} can be used-->
| sections amended = {{Usc-title-chap|33|20}} §§ 1001-1016
| leghisturl      = https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-bill/5451
| introducedin    = House
| introducedbill  = {{USBill|93|H.R.|5451}}
| introducedby    = Leonor Sullivan (D-MO)
| introduceddate  = March 8, 1973
| committees      = House Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Senate Commerce
| passedbody1     = House
| passeddate1     = May 8, 1973
| passedvote1     = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/93-1973/h81 370-1]
| passedbody2     = Senate
| passedas2       = <!-- used if the second body changes the name of the legislation -->
| passeddate2     = September 24, 1973
| passedvote2     = passed
| conferencedate  = 
| passedbody3     = 
| passeddate3     = 
| passedvote3     = 
| agreedbody3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreeddate3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedvote3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedbody4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreeddate4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreedvote4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| passedbody4     = 
| passeddate4     = 
| passedvote4     = 
| signedpresident = Richard Nixon
| signeddate      = October 4, 1973
| unsignedpresident = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| unsigneddate    = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| vetoedpresident = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| vetoeddate      = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| amendments      = 
| SCOTUS cases    = 
}}
The Oil Pollution Act of 1973 or '''Oil Pollution Act Amendments of 1973''', 33 U.S.C. Chapter 20 §§ 1001-1011, was a United States federal law which amended the United States Statute {{usstat|75|402}}. The Act of Congress sustained the United States commitment to control the discharge of fossil fuel pollutants from [[Engineering:Chemical tanker|nautical vessels]] and to acknowledge the embargo of coastal zones in trans-boundary waters.

The H.R. 5451 legislation was passed by the United States 93rd Congressional session and enacted by the 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon on October 4, 1973.

==History of OILPOL==
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil (OILPOL) was an international convention organized by the {{wipe|United Kingdom}} in 1954. The convention was held in [[Place:London|London, England]] from April 26, 1954 to May 12, 1954. The international meeting was convened to recognize the disposal of hazardous waste which could potentially yield [[Medicine:Toxicity|toxic]] [[Chemistry:Contamination|contamination]] to the [[Earth:Marine ecosystem|marine ecosystem]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/conven/oilpol1954.html |title=International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954 |date=May 12, 1954 |publisher=Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide |accessdate=December 26, 2013}}</ref>

The International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954 original text was authored in [[Social:English language|English]] and [[Social:French language|French]]. The environmental protocol was amended in 1962, 1969, and 1971.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/conven/oilpolamend1962.html |title=Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil of 12 May 1954 |date=April 11, 1962 |publisher=Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide |OCLC=133522 |accessdate=December 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/conven/oilpolamend1969.html |title=Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil of 12 May 1954 |date=October 21, 1969 |publisher=Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide |accessdate=December 26, 2013}}</ref>

The 1971 OILPOL amendments imposed irrevocable oceanic jurisdictions for the Great Barrier Reef located in the [[Earth:Coral Sea|Coral Sea]]. The international convention amendments introduced design control provisions for sea-going [[Engineering:Watercraft|vessels]] which specified tank formation arrangement and tank size limitations for nautical transport ships.

==Provisions of the Act==
The 1973 [[Social:Amendment|amendment]]s accentuated the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954 by complying with the 1969 and 1971 international convention agreement amendments.

===Definitions===
:''Oily mixture'' means a mixture with any [[Chemistry:Petroleum|oil]] content.
:''Discharge'' in relation to [[Derivative|instantaneous rate]] of [[Physics:Volumetric flow rate|discharge]] of [[Chemistry:Petroleum|oil]] content means the rate of discharge of oil in [[Litre|liters]] per hour at any instant divided by the speed of the ship in [[Physics:Knot (unit)|knots]] at the same instant.
::Discharge of oil or oily mixture from a ship is prohibited unless
:::I.) ship is proceeding en route
:::II.) the instantaneous rate of discharge of oil content does not exceed {{convert|60|L}} per {{convert|1|mi}}
::Discharge of oil or oily mixture from a ship, other than [[Engineering:Chemical tanker|tankers]] is prohibited unless
:::I.) oil content of the discharge is less than [[Physics:Parts-per notation|one hundred parts per one million parts]] of the mixture
:::II.) oil content of the discharge is made as far as practicable from the nearest land
::Discharge of oil or oily mixture from [[Engineering:Chemical tanker|tankers]] is prohibited unless
:::I.) Discharges from machinery space [[Engineering:Bilge|bilge]]s shall be governed by the above provisions for ships other than tankers
:::II.) Total quantity of oil discharge on a [[Engineering:Ballast tank|ballast]] voyage does not exceed 1/15000 of the total [[Engineering:Cargo|cargo]] carrying capacity
:::III.) Tanker is more than {{convert|50|mi}} from the nearest land
:''Nearest land'' means more than {{convert|50|mi}} from a [[Earth:Coast|coast]]line
:''Secretary'' means the Secretary of the department which governs the operations of the United States Coast Guard

===Tank Ship Construction Standards===
:[[Engineering:Chemical tanker|Tankers]] built in the United States shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of annex C of the International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea by Oil, as amended in 1971, relating to tank arrangement and limitation of tank size.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=23129&filename=A246%28VII%29.pdf |title=Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954 concerning the tank arrangements and limitation of tank size |date=October 15, 1971 |publisher=International Maritime Organization (IMO) |OCLC=10925358 |accessdate=December 26, 2013}}</ref>

:The construction standard has an effective date for all tankers built in the United States as of; 
::I.) Delivery of the tanker is after January 1, 1977
::II.) Delivery of the tanker is not later than January 1, 1977, and the building contract is placed after January 1, 1972
::III.) In cases where no building contract has previously been placed, the [[Engineering:Keel|keel]] is laid or the tanker is at a similar stage of construction, after June 30, 1972

:United States tankers are required to have on board a certificate of compliance attesting to the construction of the nautical vessel in accordance with annex C to the convention as specified by tank arrangement and limitation of tank size.

===Zone Prohibitions===
:''Australian Zone'' -  northeastern coast of {{wipe|Australia}} or Queensland designated by a line drawn from a point on the coast of Australia in latitude 11 degrees south, longitude 142 degrees 08 minutes east ({{Coord|11|00|00|S|142|08|00|E|display=inline}}) to a point in latitude 10 degrees 35 minutes south, longitude 141 degrees 55 minutes east ({{Coord|10|35|00|S|141|55|00|E|display=inline}}).
::''Great Barrier Reef'' - [[Earth:Coral reef protection|Coral reef protection]] zone of the [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth's]] largest [[Earth:Coral reef|coral reef]] system.
::thence to a point latitude 10 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 142 degrees 00 minutes east ({{Coord|10|00|00|S|142|00|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 9 degrees 10 minutes south, longitude 143 degrees 52 minutes east ({{Coord|9|10|00|S|143|52|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 9 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 144 degrees 30 minutes east ({{Coord|9|00|00|S|144|30|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 13 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 144 degrees 00 minutes east ({{Coord|13|00|00|S|144|00|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 15 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 146 degrees 00 minutes east ({{Coord|15|00|00|S|146|00|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 18 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 147 degrees 00 minutes east ({{Coord|18|00|00|S|147|00|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point latitude 21 degrees 00 minutes south, longitude 153 degrees 00 minutes east ({{Coord|21|00|00|S|153|00|00|E|display=inline}})
::thence to a point on the coast of Australia in latitude 24 degrees 42 minutes south, longitude 153 degrees 15 minutes east ({{Coord|24|42|00|S|153|15|00|E|display=inline}})

===Oil Record Book===
:The oil record book is to be completed on each occasion, on a tank-to-tank basis, whenever any of the following operations take place on a ship and tanker.
<br />
{| border="1" width="35%"
|-
! align="center" | Oil Record Book for Tankers
|-
| Name of ship
|-
| Total cargo carrying capacity of ship in cubic metres
|-
| ''I.) Loading of oil cargo''
|-
| Date and place of loading
|-
| Types of oil loaded
|-
| Identity of tank(s) loaded
|-
| ''II.) Transfer of oil cargo during voyage''
|-
| Date of transfer
|-
| Identity of tank(s)
|-
| (a) ''From'' transfer tank(s)
|-
| (b) ''To'' transfer tank(s)
|-
| Was (were) tank(s) in ''(a) From transfer tank(s)'' emptied?
|-
| ''III.) Discharge of oil cargo''
|-
| Date and place of discharge
|-
| Identity of tank(s) discharged
|-
| Was (were) tank(s) emptied?
|-
| ''IV.) Ballasting of cargo tanks''
|-
| Identity of tank(s) ballasted
|-
| Date and position of ship at start of ballasting
|-
| ''V.) Cleaning of cargo tanks''
|-
| Identity of tank(s) cleaned
|-
| Date and duration of cleaning
|-
| Methods of cleaning*
|-
| Hand hosing, machine washing, or chemical cleaning. Where chemically cleaned, the amount and chemical used are to be specified in the oil record book.
|-
| ''VI.) Discharge of dirty ballast''
|-
| Identity of tank(s)
|-
| Date and position of ship at start of discharge to sea
|-
| Date and position of ship at finish of discharge to sea
|-
| Ship's speed(s) during discharge
|-
| Quantity discharged to sea
|-
| Quantity of polluted water transferred to slop tank(s) (identify slop tank(s))
|-
| Date and port of discharge into shore reception facilities (if applicable)
|-
| ''VII.) Discharge of water from slop tank(s)''
|-
| Identity of slop tank(s)
|-
| Time of settling from last entry of residues, or
|-
| Time of settling from last discharge
|-
| Date, time and position of ship at start of discharge
|-
| Sounding of total contents at start of discharge
|-
| Sounding of interface at start of discharge
|-
| Bulk quantity discharged and rate of discharge
|-
| Final quantity discharged and rate of discharge
|-
| Date, time and position of ship at end of discharge
|-
| Ship's speed(s) during discharge
|-
| Sounding of interface at end of discharge
|-
| ''VIII.) Disposal of residues''
|-
| Identity of tank(s)
|-
| Quantity disposed from each tank
|-
| Method of disposal of residue:
|-
| (a) Reception facilities
|-
| (b) Mixed with cargo
|-
| (c) Transferred to another (other) tank(s) (identify tank(s))
|-
| (d) Other method
|-
| Date and port of disposal of residue
|-
| ''IX.) Discharge overboard of bilge water containing oil which accumulated in machinery spaces (including pump rooms)''
|-
| Port
|-
| Duration of stay
|-
| Quantity disposed
|-
| Date and place of disposal
|-
| Method of disposal (state whether a separator was used)
|}
<br />
{| border="1" width="35%"
|-
! align="center" | Oil Record Book for Ships Other Than Tankers
|-
| Name of ship
|-
| ''I.) Ballasting or cleaning of bunker fuel tanks''
|-
| Identity of tank(s) ballasted
|-
| Whether cleaned since they last contained oil and, if not, type of oil previously carried
|-
| Date and position of ship at start of cleaning
|-
| Date and position of ship at start of ballasting
|-
| ''II.) Discharge of dirty ballast or cleaning water from tanks''
|-
| Identity of tank(s)
|-
| Date and position of ship at start of discharge
|-
| Date and position of ship at finish of discharge
|-
| Ship's speed(s) during discharge
|-
| Method of discharge (state whether separator used)
|-
| Quantity discharged
|-
| ''III.) Disposal of residues''
|-
| Quantity of residue retained on board
|-
| Methods of disposal of residue:
|-
| (a) Reception facilities
|-
| (b) Mixed with next bunkering
|-
| (c) Transferred to another (other) tank(s)
|-
| Date and port of disposal of residue
|-
| ''IV.) Discharge overboard of bilge water containing oil which accumulated in machinery spaces''
|-
| Port
|-
| Duration of stay
|-
| Quantity disposed
|-
| Date and place of disposal
|-
| Method of disposal (state whether separator used)
|}

==Repeal of Oil Pollution Act of 1973==
The 1973 United States public law was repealed by the enactment of [[Earth:Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships|Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships]] on October 21, 1980.

==See also==
:[[Engineering:Ballast tank|Ballast tank]]
:[[Earth:Ballast water discharge and the environment|Ballast water discharge and the environment]]
:[[Earth:Environmental impact of shipping|Environmental impact of shipping]]
:International Maritime Organization
:Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
:MARPOL 73/78
:[[Earth:Oil Pollution Act of 1924|Oil Pollution Act of 1924]]
:[[Earth:Oil Pollution Act of 1990|Oil Pollution Act of 1990]]
:United States energy law

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Google books|f4-OAAAAMAAJ|International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954|page=2989}}
* {{Google books|QBSKSWZertoC|Supplement Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954 as Amended in 1962 and 1969|page=1}}
* {{OCLC|496668525}}
* {{OCLC|630927457}}
* {{OCLC|10925358}}
* {{OCLC|17155361}}
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/shipboardguideto00unit/ |title=Shipboard Guide to Pollution-Free Operations |date=December 1976 |website=Internet Archive |publisher=Maritime Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce |oclc=822729563}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.marinetraffic.com/ |title=Automatic Identification System Marine Tracking |website=[[Company:MarineTraffic|MarineTraffic.com]]}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.vesselfinder.com/ |title=Automatic Identification System Vessel Tracking |website=VesselFinder.com}}

{{US Environmental law}}

[[Category:Ocean pollution]]

{{Sourceattribution|Oil Pollution Act of 1973}}