If you discover a polluting incident, who should you talk to first?

• A. The Environmental Officer on shore
• B. The Safety Officer
• C. The Crew member who noticed it
• D. The Master of the vessel

Answer: (C)

In this situation, the key idea is that the person who first sees a pollution incident must raise the alert immediately so the response can begin without delay. The crew member who noticed it is best placed to speak up first because they have the direct, on-the-spot information about what happened, where, and how much pollution is involved. By reporting right away to the person in charge on board (the Master or the officer on watch), the ship can start the proper containment, notification, and response procedures without wasting time guessing what occurred. The Environmental Officer on shore and the Safety Officer play important supporting roles, but they are not on scene to make the initial assessment or decision, and the Master is responsible for coordinating the ship’s response and communications once the incident is reported. Focusing the first report through the observer who witnessed the event ensures the most accurate initial information and the fastest start to the on-board response.