Oily water separator

Oily water separator

An oily water separator (OWS) is a piece of shipboard equipment that allows a vessel's crew to separate oil from bilge water before the bilge water is discharged overboard.

Bilge water is an almost unavoidable product in ship operations. Bilge water that is generated in proximity to shipboard equipment (such as in the engine room) often contains oil and its direct discharge would result in undesirable transfer of waste oil to the marine environment. By international agreement under the MARPOL convention, most commercial vessels need to be fitted with an oily water separator to remove oil contaminants before bilge water is pumped overboard.

Oily water separator equipment has been a shipboard requirement since the 1970s but recently it has become evident that oily water separators have not been as effective as had been assumed, and alleged improper operation of this equipment by crewmembers (sometimes called the magic pipe) has resulted in criminal prosecutions in the United States and to a lesser extent in Europe.

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • API oil-water separator — An API oil water separator is a device designed to separate gross amounts of oil and suspended solids from the wastewater effluents of oil refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical plants, natural gas processing plants and other industrial… …   Wikipedia

  • Magic pipe — For the animated film, see The Magic Pipe. A magic pipe is a surreptitious change to a ship s oily water separator, or other waste handing equipment, which allows waste liquids to be discharged in contravention of maritime pollution… …   Wikipedia

  • OWS — may refer to Occupy Wall Street, a 2011 political protest movement, that originated in New York City Offworld Sounds, a Perth, Australia record label run by Stephen Mallinder OGC Web Service Common, an implementation specification from the Open… …   Wikipedia

  • OWS — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom.   Sigles d’une seule lettre   Sigles de deux lettres > Sigles de trois lettres   Sigles de quatre lettres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cruise ship pollution in the United States — The cruise ship industry is a significant and growing contributor to the United States economy, providing more than $32 billion in benefits annually and generating more than 330,000 U.S. jobs, but also making the environmental impacts of its… …   Wikipedia

  • Cruise ship pollution — Cruise ships generate sewage, greywater, hazardous wastes, oily bilge water, ballast water, solid waste, and air pollutants. If released without proper treatment, these wastes can put pathogens, nutrients, and toxic substances into the… …   Wikipedia

  • Regulation of ship pollution in the United States — International laws and regulationsMARPOL 73/78 is one of the most important treaties regulating pollution from ships. Six Annexes of the Convention cover the various sources of pollution from ships and provide an overarching framework for… …   Wikipedia

  • Environmental impact of shipping — A cargo ship discharging ballast water into the sea. The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping is currently estimated at 4 to 5 percent of the global total,… …   Wikipedia

  • Clotted cream — A tub of clotted cream, showing top crust. Origin Alternative name(s) Clouted cream, Devonshire cream Place of origin …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of boiler terminology — Boilers for generating steam or hot water have been designed in countless different shapes, sizes and configurations. An extensive terminology has evolved to describe their common features. This glossary provides definitions for these terms.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”