3 Management of Cargo Residues of Solid Bulk Cargoes

  3.1 Cargo residues are included in the definition of garbage within the meaning of Annex V, regulation 1.9 and may be discharged in accordance with regulations 4.1.3 and 6.1.2. However, cargo material contained in the cargo hold bilge water should not be treated as cargo residues if the cargo material is not harmful to the marine environment and the bilge water is discharged from a loaded hold through the ship's fixed piping bilge drainage system.

  3.2 Cargo residues are considered harmful to the marine environment and subject to regulations 4.1.3 and 6.1.2.1 of the revised MARPOL Annex V if they are residues of solid bulk substances which are classified according to the criteria of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS) meeting the following parameters¹):

• .1 Acute Aquatic Toxicity Category 1; and/or

• .2 Chronic Aquatic Toxicity Category 1 or 2; and/or

• .3 Carcinogenicity²⁾ Category 1A or 1B combined with not being rapidly degradable and having high bioaccumulation; and/or

• .4 Mutagenicity²⁾ Category 1A or 1B combined with not being rapidly degradable and having high bioaccumulation; and/or

• .5 Reproductive Toxicity²⁾ Category 1A or 1B combined with not being rapidly degradable and having high bioaccumulation; and/or

• .6 Specific Target Organ Toxicity Repeated Exposure²⁾ Category 1 combined with not being rapidly degradable and having high bioaccumulation; and/or

• .7 Solid bulk cargoes containing or consisting of synthetic polymers, rubber, plastics, or plastic feedstock pellets (this includes materials that are shredded, milled, chopped or macerated or similar materials).

  3.3 Cargo residues that are harmful to the marine environment may require special handling not normally provided by reception facilities. Ports and terminals receiving such cargoes should have adequate reception facilities for all relevant residues, including when contained in washwater.

  3.4 Solid bulk cargoes should be classified and declared by the shipper as to whether or not they are harmful to the marine environment. Such declaration should be included in the information required in section 4.2 of the IMSBC Code.

  3.5 Ports, terminals and ship operators should consider cargo loading, unloading and onboard handling practices^footnote in order to minimize production of cargo residues. Cargo residues are created through inefficiencies in loading, unloading, onboard handling. Options that should be considered to decrease the amount of such garbage include the following:

• .1 ensuring ships are suitable to carry the intended cargo and also suitable for unloading the same cargo using conventional unloading methods;

• .2 unloading cargo as efficiently as possible, utilizing all appropriate safety precautions to prevent injury or ship and equipment damage and to avoid or minimize cargo residues; and

• .3 minimizing spillage of the cargo during transfer operations by carefully controlling cargo transfer operations, both on board and from dockside. This should include effective measures to enable immediate communications between relevant ship and shore-based personnel during the transfer operations and when feasible, enclosure of conveyance devices such as conveyor belts. Since this spillage typically occurs in port, it should be completely cleaned up immediately following the loading and unloading event and handled as cargo; delivering it into the intended cargo space or into the appropriate unloading holding area.

  3.6 When the master, based on the information received from the relevant port authorities, determines that there are no adequate reception facilities^footnote at either the port of departure or the port of destination in the case where both ports are situated within the same special area, the condition under regulation 6.1.2.3 should be considered satisfied.

  3.7 MARPOL Annex V, regulation 6.1.2 also applies when the "port of departure" and the "next port of destination" is the same port. To discharge cargo hold washwater in this situation, the ship must be en route and the discharge must take place not less than 12 miles from the nearest land.