Circular
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Marine Environment Protection Committee - MEPC.1/Circular.675/Rev.1 – Discharge of Cargo Hold Washing Water in the Gulfs Area, Mediterranean Sea Area and Wider Caribbean Region Under MARPOL Annex V – (26 March 2010) - Circular

Circular

  1 MEPC 59 (13 to 20 July 2009), having considered the problems associated with disposal of cargo hold washing water from bulk carriers in accordance with the current requirements of MARPOL Annex V and, recognizing that the issue is linked to the ongoing review of MARPOL Annex V and that until appropriate amendments have been adopted and entered into force, an appropriate solution should be developed, agreed that (MEPC 59/24, paragraph 6.39):

  • .1 cargo hold washing water, containing the remnants of any dry cargo material, generated in connection with the ship cleaning its cargo holds should not be treated as garbage under MARPOL Annex V within the Gulfs Area; the Mediterranean Sea Area; and

  • .2 such cargo hold washing water may be discharged at a greater distance than 12 nautical miles from shore within these areas. Cargo residues in the washing water must not originate from a cargo material that is classified as a marine pollutant in the IMDG Code.

  2 MEPC 59 recalled, however, that paragraph 17.10 of the Guidelines for the implementation of MARPOL Annex V state that such cargo residues are expected to be in small quantities.

  3 MEPC 60 (22 to 26 March 2010) adopted resolution MEPC.191(60) whereby it established the date on which regulation 5(1)(h) of MARPOL Annex V in respect of the Wider Caribbean Region Special Area shall take effect and agreed to issue the present circular on Discharge of cargo hold washing water in the Gulfs Area, Mediterranean Sea Area and the Wider Caribbean region, so that the discharge requirements as described in paragraphs 1.1, 1.2 and 2 would also apply to the Wider Caribbean Region.

  4 It may be noted that, in accordance with the provisions of resolution MEPC.191(60), the date on which regulation 5(1)(h) of MARPOL Annex V in respect of the Wider Caribbean Region Special Area shall take effect is 1 May 2011.

  5 Member Governments are invited to bring the content of this circular to the attention of those interested, including port State control authorities and coastguard and maritime surveillance services, as appropriate.

  6 This circular supersedes MEPC.1/Circ.675.

Parent topic: MEPC.1/Circular.675/Rev.1 – Discharge of Cargo Hold Washing Water in the Gulfs Area, Mediterranean Sea Area and Wider Caribbean Region Under MARPOL Annex V – (26 March 2010)
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