Regulation 6 - Discharge of garbage within special areas
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Conventions - MARPOL - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships - Annex V of MARPOL 73/78Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships - Chapter 1 - General - Regulation 6 - Discharge of garbage within special areas

Regulation 6 - Discharge of garbage within special areas

  1 Discharge of the following garbage into the sea within special areas shall only be permitted while the ship is en route and as follows:

  • .1 Discharge into the sea of food wastes as far as practicable from the nearest land, but not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf. Food wastes shall be comminuted or ground and shall be capable of passing through a screen with openings no greater than 25 mm. Food wastes shall not be contaminated by any other garbage type. Discharge of introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless it has been treated to be made sterile.

  • .2 Discharge of cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading, where all the following conditions are satisfied:

    • .1 Cargo residues contained in hold washing water do not include any substances classified as harmful to the marine environment according to the criteria set out in appendix I of this Annex;

    • .2 Solid bulk cargoes as defined in regulation VI/1-1.2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 , as amended, other than grain, shall be classified in accordance with appendix I of this Annex, and declared by the shipper as to whether or not they are harmful to the marine environmentfootnote;

    • .3 Cleaning agents or additives contained in hold washing water do not include any substances classified as harmful to the marine environment taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization;

    • .4 Both the port of departure and the next port of destination are within the special area and the ship will not transit outside the special area between those ports;

    • .5 No adequate reception facilities are available at those ports taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization; and

    • .6 Where the conditions of subparagraphs .2.1 to .2.5 of this paragraph have been fulfilled, discharge of cargo hold washing water containing residues shall be made as far as practicable from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf and not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf.

  2 Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged into the sea, but only if these substances are not harmful to the marine environment, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization.

  3 The following rules (in addition to the rules in paragraph 1 of this regulation) apply with respect to the Antarctic area:

  • .1 Each Party at whose ports ships depart en route to or arrive from the Antarctic area undertakes to ensure that as soon as practicable adequate facilities are provided for the reception of all garbage from all ships, without causing undue delay, and according to the needs of the ships using them.

  • .2 Each Party shall ensure that all ships entitled to fly its flag, before entering the Antarctic area, have sufficient capacity on board for the retention of all garbage, while operating in the area and have concluded arrangements to discharge such garbage at a reception facility after leaving the area.

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


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