🔍 Key Concepts

• Crude oil washing (COW) procedures and what residue may remain if no water rinse is done • The difference between segregated ballast, clean ballast, and dirty ballast under MARPOL/USCG definitions • How ballast that is in contact with oil or oily residues is classified for pollution-control purposes

💭 Think About

• If a tank has only been crude oil washed, what is likely still inside or on the tank surfaces before any water rinse? • Which ballast category requires that the ballast be completely separated from oil cargo, lines, and residues? • For pollution regulations, how is ballast treated when there is a realistic chance it contains oil or oily residues?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which type of ballast must be in a tank permanently dedicated to ballast and not used for oil cargo • Check which term applies to ballast that may contain oil contamination or residues • Confirm which category requires the ballast to meet a standard that allows discharge into the sea without further treatment under MARPOL/USCG rules