An Idiot's Guide to MARPOL ANNEX V (revised)

MARPOL ANNEX V

International regulation for the prevention of pollution by Garbage From Ships

 Regulations: 10 (previously 9)
Enforcement: 31 Dec 1988
Amended : 15 Jul 2011

Regulation 1: Definitions

• Garbage is referred to all kind of victual, domestic and operational waste which are generated due to normal ops on board and are liable to disposed of continuously or periodically.
• Animal carcasses means the bodies of any animals that are carried on board as cargo and that die or are euthanized during the voyage.
• Cargo residues means the remnants of any cargo
• Cooking oil means any type of edible oil or animal fat used or intended to be used for the preparation or cooking of food
• Domestic wastes means all types of wastes  generated in the accommodation spaces on board the ship.
• En route means that the ship is underway at sea on a course
• Fixed or floating platforms means fixed or floating structures located at sea which are engaged in the exploration, exploitation or associated offshore processing of sea-bed mineral resources
• Food wastes means any spoiled or unspoiled food substances and includes fruits, vegetables, dairy products, poultry, meat products and food scraps generated aboard ship.
• Nearest land. The term "from the nearest land" means from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the territory in question is established in accordance with international law.
• Special area means a sea area where for recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographic and ecological condition.

Regulation 2: Application

• Applies to all kinds of vessels unless any exemption specified by the Administration.

Reg 3,4,5,6 are covered in chart shown below,their names are,

Regulation 3: General prohibition on discharge of garbage into the sea

Regulation 4: Disposal of Garbage Outside Special Area

Regulation 5: Req for discharge from fixed or floating platforms

Regulation 6: Discharge of garbage within special areas

Chart showing summary of Reg 3,4,5,6:

• Disposal of all plastics into sea is strictly prohibited. It includes synthetic ropes, fishing nets and plastic bags etc.

• Disposal of garbage shall be allowed at practicable distance from the nearest land, under following:

1. For all points covering 3 nm or 12 nm from nearest land, the ground wastes shall be capable of passing through a screen with openings <= 25 mm.
2. 12 nm from the nearest land for cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading. But they must not be a threat to marine environment in any way.

Regulation 7: Exceptions

Regulations 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Annex shall not apply to:

• The discharge of garbage from a ship necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship and those on board or saving life at sea.
• The accidental loss of garbage or fishing gear resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment.
• The en route requirements of regulations 4 and 6 shall not apply to the discharge of food wastes where it is clear the retention on board of these food wastes presents an imminent health risk to the people on board. 

Regulation 8: Reception facilities

• Each Party undertakes to ensure the provision of adequate facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage without causing undue delay to ships, and according to the needs of the ships using them.

Regulation 9: Port State control on Ops Req

• A ship when in a port or an offshore terminal of another Party is subject to inspection by officers duly authorized by such Party concerning operational requirements under this Annex, where there are clear grounds for believing that the master or crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to the prevention of pollution by garbage.
• In the circumstances given in paragraph 1 of this regulation, the Party shall take such steps as will ensure that the ship shall not sail until the situation has been brought to order in accordance with the requirements of this Annex. 

Regulation 10: Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record-keeping

• Every ship/platforms of Length >= 12 m shall display placards which notify the crew and passengers of the Dis Req of  Regs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Annex.
• The placards must be displayed telling about the important aspects of this Reg and be written in the working language of the ship's crew and shall also be in English, French or Spanish.
• Ship GT >= 100 GT, or Carry Capacity >= 15 persons, shall carry a,

Garbage Management Plan which the crew shall follow. This plan shall provide written procedures for minimizing, collecting, storing, processing and disposing of garbage, including the use of the equipment on board.

• Ship GT >= 400 GT, Carry Cap >= 15 persons, must carry a,

Garbage Record Book.  This book is used as follows,

2. Each discharge into the sea or to a reception facility, or a completed incineration, shall be promptly recorded and signed for on the date of the discharge or incineration by the officer in charge.
3. Each completed page of the Garbage Record Book shall be signed by the master of the ship.
4. The entry for each discharge or incineration shall include date and time, position of the ship, category of the garbage and the estimated amount discharged or incinerated.
5. This document shall be preserved for a period of at least two years from the date of the last entry made in it.

Entries in the Garbage Record Book 

• Entries in the Garbage Record Book shall be made on each of the following occasions: 

1. When garbage is discharged to a reception facility  ashore or to other ships: 

.1 Date and time of discharge 

.2 Port or facility, or name of ship 

.3 Categories of garbage discharged 

.4 Estimated amount discharged for each category in cubic metres 

.5 Signature of officer in charge of the operation. 

• When garbage is incinerated: 

.1 Date and time of start and stop of incineration 

.2 Position of the ship (latitude and longitude) at the start and stop of 

incineration 

.3 Categories of garbage incinerated 

.4 Estimated amount incinerated in cubic metres 

.5 Signature of the officer in charge of the operation. 

• When garbage is discharged into the sea in accordance with regulations 4, 5 or 6 of Annex V of MARPOL: 

.1 Date and time of discharge 

.2 Position of the ship (latitude and longitude). Note: for cargo 

residue discharges, include discharge start and stop positions. 

.3 Category of garbage discharged 

.4 Estimated amount discharged for each category in cubic metres 

.5 Signature of the officer in charge of the operation. 

• Accidental or other exceptional discharges or loss of garbage into the sea, including in accordance with regulation 7 of Annex V of MARPOL: 

.1 Date and time of occurrence 

.2 Port or position of the ship at time of occurrence (latitude, longitude and water depth if known) 

.3 Categories of garbage discharged or lost 

.4 Estimated amount for each category in cubic metres 

.5 The reason for the discharge or loss

Thats All Folks :)

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