MARSHALL ISLANDS - CARRIAGE OF COOKING OIL AS CARGO

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) has issued the following attached Marine Safety Advisory (MSA) which concerns carriage of cooking oil as cargo.

With respect to the carriage requirements, the second meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee (PPR 2) agreed to establish, subject to endorsement by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (expected at its upcoming meeting, 11-15 May 2015), a generic entry for used cooking oil in list 1 of the MEPC.2/Circular, with validity for all countries and without an expiry date (see IMO document PPR 2/21 Annex 4).

It is the understanding of the Administrator that some countries are already utilizing list 1 and issuing fines for noncompliance when carrying out documentary checks, although the list has not yet been endorsed by the MEPC.

Ship operators, therefore, should pay careful attention to the consistency of terminology used by shippers on documentation. The shipping name of “Used Cooking Oil,” where the cargo is actually used cooking oil, should be used in the documentation, rather than any other synonyms (e.g., yellow grease) commonly used in this trade. Ship operators should also ensure that all carriage requirements identified in list 1 are met.