A new ocean going ship of 2000 gross tons having an inoperative oily water separator may dispose of its bilge slops by __________.

Correct Answer: Option B — holding its slops onboard until they can be discharged to a shore side reception facility

MARPOL Annex I strictly prohibits discharging oily mixtures overboard from vessels lacking operational separating equipment. When equipment is inoperative, oily bilge slops must be retained onboard in designated holding tanks until the vessel can discharge them to an approved shore-side reception facility.