🔍 Key Concepts

• 33 CFR Part 155 – Oil or Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention Regulations for Vessels • Difference between a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) under MARPOL and a U.S. vessel response plan (VRP) under U.S. law • Which documents must be submitted to and approved by the USCG versus which are simply carried on board

💭 Think About

• Think about which option correctly describes a plan that U.S. law requires for certain oil-carrying vessels and must actually be submitted to the Coast Guard for review and approval. • Consider whether having a Certificate of Inspection (COI) by itself can cover all pollution emergency planning requirements, or if separate planning and documentation are required. • Reflect on whether international requirements like MARPOL automatically override, replace, or cancel U.S. domestic requirements for U.S.-flag vessels trading in U.S. waters.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in 33 CFR 155 Subpart D who must have a vessel response plan and whether it must be submitted to and approved by the USCG. • Check whether U.S.-flag vessels can ignore U.S. planning requirements if they comply with MARPOL, or whether they must comply with both when applicable. • Confirm if a Certificate of Inspection is a safety and inspection document, or if it is explicitly stated anywhere to be a substitute for pollution emergency response planning documents.