How long is an Oil Record Book Part 1 preserved for?

• A. 1 year
• B. 2 years
• C. 3 years
• D. 5 years

Answer: (C)

Oil Record Book Part I logs all oil cargo and ballast operations, along with any discharge of oily mixtures to the sea and related handling of oil-containing waste. This record must be kept on board and preserved for three years after the date of the last entry. The three-year retention provides inspectors with a complete and accessible history of how oil was handled during operations, making it possible to verify compliance with MARPOL procedures and to detect any improper discharges or mishandling of oil. Keeping the record for this period helps ensure accountability over a realistic window in which inspection, investigation, or pattern analysis could occur. Shorter retention could obscure important evidence, while a longer period isn’t required by the regulations for this part.