API BULL 91:2007

Worldwide, marine exploration, production, development and decommissioning operations are conducted from a variety of structures (installations, as defined herein). These installations must be inspected periodically and maintained in order to assure structural integrity and minimize pollution risks. Maintenance of an offshore structure, regardless of its classification, necessarily includes blasting and coating activities. The purpose of this publication is to establish practices and procedures that should be followed to minimize the discharge of spent blast abrasive, and paint overspray to the surrounding waters during these activities, to meet the spirit of MARPOL Annex V. Additionally, any maintenance waste which is captured must be properly packaged and shipped to shore for disposal. This publication also addresses procedures to contain and capture maintenance waste, including, but not limited to, spent blast abrasive and associated materials, during such maintenance activities on marine structures. The safety of personnel is the most important consideration for all work activities. Consequently, any blasting and coating work conducted shall consider the safety of personnel as paramount. Other types of discharges that may be permitted by various regulatory authorities, are outside the scope of this document. These would include (1) discharges in compliance with a relevant governmental permit (e.g., the applicable provisions of the U.S. Clean Water Act or the applicable sections of European Community [EC] Dangerous Substances Directives), (2) discharges resulting from circumstances identified and reviewed and made part of the public record with respect to a permit issued or modified and subject to a condition in such permit, and (3) continuous or anticipated intermittent discharges from a point source, identified in a permit or permit application which are caused by events occurring within the scope of relevant operating or treatment systems