The Ministry of Environment revises maritime waste regulations, introducing new deadlines and an 80% capacity rule for waste delivery.
New Era in Maritime Waste: Deadlines Changed, 80% Capacity Criterion Introduced
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has made significant changes in the Maritime Waste Application. With the new circular numbered 2026/12, the waste delivery deadlines for ships have been reorganized, and a mandatory requirement has been introduced to deliver waste without waiting when the waste tanks reach 80% capacity.
The General Directorate of Environmental Management of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change published the circular numbered 2026/12 regarding the Maritime Waste Application on September 3, 2026. With this new regulation, the previous circular numbered 2022/14 has been repealed, and changes have been made in the waste delivery deadlines and waste tracking processes for ships.
The most important change is in waste delivery deadlines.
With the new circular, the waste delivery deadlines for commercial vessels subject to the Blue Card System, as well as for recreational and fishing vessels, have been redefined.
For ships with a capacity to carry less than 12 passengers and crew, the previously set deadline of 15 days has been extended to 20 days.
For ships with a carrying capacity of 12 or more, the previously set deadline of 10 days has been increased to 15 days. In a regulation made in 2022, this group of ships had their deadline extended from 48 hours to 10 days.
Thus, the time allowed for waste delivery has been extended for ship operators in both capacity groups.
80% Capacity Limit Introduced
Another notable provision of the new regulation concerns the capacity of waste tanks.
Ships under the scope of the Blue Card System will be required to deliver their waste to the nearest waste reception facility or waste collection vessel without waiting for the deadline when the waste tank capacity reaches 80% while navigating in maritime jurisdiction areas.
Even if the capacity does not reach 80%, ships will still be obligated to deliver their waste within the specified deadlines.
24-Hour Requirement for GATS Notifications
The waste notification process for agents of ships under the GATS has also been clearly regulated.
Waste notifications for ships will be made through the Port Single Window System (LTP). Notifications must be made at least 24 hours before the ship's arrival at the port.
For short-haul voyages of less than 24 hours, the notification will be made immediately after the ship departs from its port of departure. If there are changes in the amount of waste or the arrival time at the port, the information will be updated immediately through the LTP.
Waste Transfer Form Reorganized
With the new circular, the application of the Waste Transfer Form, which indicates that waste has been delivered, has been detailed.
Waste reception facilities under the scope of GATS will prepare the Waste Transfer Form regarding the received waste through GATS and provide it to the ship's captain, owner, or agent.
For ships under the Blue Card System, the form will be generated through DAU. Waste collection vessel operators will also prepare the Waste Transfer Form through DAU after performing their waste collection operations and deliver it to the ship's captain.
Blue Card Registrations Will Be Free
The responsibilities of waste collection obligors serving ships subject to the Blue Card System have also been redefined.
In this context, waste collection obligors will register with DAU, keep waste reception facilities and waste collection vessels ready, and provide waste collection services comprehensively.
Applications from ship captains, owners, or agents wishing to register their ships with the Blue Card System will be processed without any fee. A QR code generated through the Blue Card System for each ship will also be provided to the registrant.
Inspections and Electronic Tracking Will Continue
The Ministry, provincial directorates, and authorized institutions will carry out inspections and controls of waste collection vessels and coastal facilities to ensure the effective implementation of DAU.
Port authority officials will also be able to query the waste notifications made by ships before arriving at the port and the waste transfers that have been carried out through DAU.
Ship captains will be obliged to keep the Waste Transfer Form created for the waste collected from their ships.
Previous Circular Repealed
With the new regulation, the circular numbered 2022/14 regarding the Maritime Waste Application has been repealed. The circular numbered 2026/12 came into effect on the date of its publication.
With the new regulation, while the fundamental structure for tracking maritime waste is preserved, the extension of waste delivery deadlines and the introduction of the 80% capacity criterion stand out.
The waste delivery deadline for ships carrying less than 12 people has increased from 15 days to 20 days.
For ships carrying 12 or more people, the deadline has increased from 10 days to 15 days.
When the waste tank reaches 80% capacity, waste delivery has become mandatory.
The requirement for 24-hour prior notification for GATS notifications continues.
Waste transfers are still monitored electronically through DAU.
The circular numbered 2022/14 has been repealed.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
