The Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued a reminder to all concerned that electronic Record Books, known as e-RBs and other ancillary electronic documentation system on board Valletta flagged vessels are acceptable considering the record keeping requirements found in legislation, in accordance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Reference is also made to the guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation under Resolution MEPC.312 (74), which provides for the standardisation of information on e-RBs.
Prior to obtaining approval from the Administration, shipowners and masters making use of e-RBs to recorded operational logs, must ensure that they system is compliant with MEPC.312 (74) and must have an issues written declaration of MARPOL Electronic Record Books.
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF ELECTRONIC RECORD BOOKS UNDER MARPOL
Through Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organisation concerning the functions of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee, the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response has adopted the Guidelines for the use of electronic record books under MARPOL on the 17th May 2019. Given that a key element of MARPOL is the recording of discharges associated with the prevention of pollution from ships, a number of Annexes of regulate the recording of discharges. Traditionally, the recording was submitted to the authorities in hard copy. However, with the advancement in technology and environmental awareness, the concept of operational logs in electronic format has become popular. Indeed, MARPOL now encourages the use of such technologies as it has several benefits, including the capacity of retention of records.
