FEW POINTS FROM THE NEW GARBAGE REGULATION ANNEX V

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The main changes in the revised MARPOL Annex V are as follows:

• Practically all discharges of waste into the sea are prohibited, including cooking oil and all plastics, even in the form of incinerator ash.
• The only discharges allowed are:
  
  Outside special areas:

• >3nm from the nearest land for comminuted/ground food waste (able to pass through a screen with openings no greater than 25mm)
• >12nm from the nearest land for food waste and cargo residues that are not harmful to the marine environment
• Cleaning agents which are not harmful to the marine environment (contained in cargo hold, deck and external surfaces wash water)
• Animal carcasses (as far as possible from the nearest land and in accordance with IMO guidelines).

Inside special areas:

• >12nm from the nearest land for comminuted/ground food waste (able to pass through a screen with openings no greater than 25mm)
• >12nm for cargo residues that are not harmful to the marine environment (only if the ship is not transiting outside the special area between ports and no adequate reception facilities are available at those ports)
• Cleaning agents which are not harmful to the marine environment (contained in deck and external surfaces wash water).

• An “en route” clause has been introduced, meaning that most allowable discharges are only permitted while the ship is en route.
• A Revised Garbage Record Book (new categories and different recording requirements).
• Every vessel of 100 GT and above or carrying 15 persons or more shall carry a Garbage Management Plan.
• Ships 12 metres in length or more and fixed or floating platforms are to display placards notifying crew and passengers of the MARPOL Annex V requirements.
• Discharges of any garbage from fixed or floating platforms and from any ship alongside or within 500m of a fixed or floating platform are prohibited.

Further extensive guidance on the revised MARPOL Annex V can be found in the2012 Guidelines for the Implementation of Annex V (MEPC.219(63) adopted on 2 March 2012).

Shipowners are reminded that the revised Annex V entails that:

• Crews should be instructed on the forthcoming requirements.
• A revised Garbage Management Plan must be produced and implemented on board.
• Placards on board must be renewed so as to display the revised garbage disposal requirements.
• The Garbage Record Book must be updated in accordance with the new recording requirements.