In the 2017 Tokyo MOU Annual Report, 81 vessels were listed as detained for oil separation equipment deficiencies.
On the opposite side of the world, the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Justice have criminally prosecuted more than 100 vessels in the past 10 years for similar violations. During Port State Control Examinations, special attention is placed on compliance to MARPOL Annex I.
Operators and owners spend substantial resources on qualifications and training to meet legislation, but human error cannot always be avoided. Once in violation of legislation, the legal system has proved to rarely distinguish between operator error and willful non-compliance.