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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.219(63) – 2012 Guidelines for the Implementation of Marpol Annex V – (Adopted on 2 March 2012)Amended by Resolution MEPC.239(65) - Annex – 2012 Guidelines for the Implementation of Marpol Annex V - 2 Garbage Management - 2.3 Shipboard garbage handling (collection, processing, storage, discharge)

2.3 Shipboard garbage handling (collection, processing, storage, discharge)

  2.3.1 Regulation 3 of MARPOL Annex V provides that the discharge of garbage into the sea is prohibited, with limited exceptions, as summarized in table 1. Under certain conditions discharge into the sea of food wastes, animal carcasses, cleaning agents and additives contained in hold washwater, deck and external surface washwater and cargo residues which are not considered to be harmful to the marine environment is permitted.

Table 1 Summary of Restrictions to the Discharge of Garbage into the Sea under Regulations 4, 5 and 6 of MARPOL Annex V

(Note: Table 1 is intended as a summary reference. The provisions in MARPOL Annex V, not table 1, prevail.)
Garbage type1 All ships except platforms4 Offshore platforms located more than 12 nm from nearest land and ships when alongside or within 500 metres of such platforms4
Regulation 5
Outside special areas
Regulation 4
(Distances are from the nearest land) 		Within special areas
Regulation 6
(Distances are from nearest land or nearest ice-shelf)
Food waste comminuted or ground2 ≥3 nm, en route and as far as practicable ≥12 nm, en route and as far as practicable3 Discharge permitted
Food waste not comminuted or ground ≥12 nm, en route and as far as practicable Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
Cargo residues5, 6 not contained in washwater ≥ 12 nm, en route and as far as practicable Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
Cargo residues 5, 6 contained in washwater ≥12 nm, en route and as far as practicable (subject to conditions in regulation 6.1.2)
Cleaning agents and additives6 contained in cargo hold washwater Discharge permitted ≥12 nm, en route and as far as practicable (subject to conditions in regulation 6.1.2) Discharge prohibited
Cleaning agents and additives6 in deck and external surfaces washwater   Discharge permitted  
Animal Carcasses (should be split or otherwise treated to ensure the carcasses will sink immediately) Must be en route and as far from the nearest land as possible. Should be >100 nm and maximum water depth Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
All other garbage including plastics, synthetic ropes, fishing gear, plastic garbage bags, incinerator ashes, clinkers, cooking oil, floating dunnage, lining and packing materials, paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery and similar refuse Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
1 =

When garbage is mixed with or contaminated by other harmful substances prohibited from discharge or having different discharge requirements, the more stringent requirements shall apply.

2 =

Comminuted or ground food wastes must be able to pass through a screen with mesh no larger than 25 mm.

3 =

The discharge of introduced avian products in the Antarctic area is not permitted unless incinerated, autoclaved or otherwise treated to be made sterile.

4 =

Offshore platforms located 12 nm from nearest land and associated ships include all fixed or floating platforms engaged in exploration or exploitation or associated processing of seabed mineral resources, and all ships alongside or within 500 m of such platforms.

5 =

Cargo residues means only those cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading.

6 =

These substances must not be harmful to the marine environment.

  2.3.2 Compliance with Annex V involves personnel, equipment and procedures for collecting, sorting, processing, storing, recycling, reusing and discharging garbage. Economic and procedural considerations associated with these activities include storage space requirements, sanitation, equipment and personnel costs and in port garbage service charges.

  2.3.3 Compliance with the provisions of Annex V involves careful planning by the ship's owner and operator and proper execution by crew members as well as other seafarers. The most appropriate procedures for handling and storing garbage on board ships may vary depending on factors such as the type and size of the ship, the area of operation (e.g. special area, distance from nearest land or ice-shelf), shipboard garbage processing equipment and storage space, number of crew or passengers, duration of voyage, and regulations and reception facilities at ports of call. However, in view of the cost involved with the different garbage handling options, it is economically advantageous to first, limit the amount of material that may become garbage from being brought on board the ship and second, separate garbage eligible for discharge into the sea from other garbage that may not be discharged into the sea. Proper management of containers and packaging coming on board and proper handling and storage can minimize shipboard storage space requirements and enable efficient transfer of retained garbage to port reception facilities for proper handling (i.e. recycling, reuse) or land-based disposal.

  2.3.4 Every ship of 100 gross tonnage and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 or more persons, and fixed and floating platforms are required to carry and implement a garbage management plan that specifies procedures to be followed to ensure proper and efficient handling and storage of garbage. A garbage management planfootnote should be developed that can be incorporated into crew and ship operating manuals. Such manuals should identify crew responsibilities (including an Environmental Control Officer) and procedures for all aspects of handling and storing garbage on board the ship. Procedures for handling ship-generated garbage are divided into four phases: collection, processing, storage, and discharge. A generalized garbage management plan for handling and storing ship-generated garbage is presented in table 2. Specific procedures for each phase are discussed below.

Table 2 Options for shipboard handling and discharge of garbage

Parent topic: 2 Garbage Management
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