Intercargo, representing the interests of dry bulk shipowners
and operators, has found a general lack of information and understanding concerning important changes to MARPOL Annex V for port reception
facilities that enter into force on 1 January 2013.The new requirements, which will place additional planning and
reporting responsibilities on shippers and terminal operators, could
also cause confusion, delays, contractual disagreements and possibly
action by Port State Control authorities. The lack of appropriate
facilities to discharge dry cargo residues and hold washing water is
generally acknowledged but with few apparent additions to facilities,
compliance of the regulations by the various stakeholders will be
difficult.Under current and revised SOLAS rules and in accordance with Section
4.2 of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code,
shippers must now declare on the ‘Cargo Declaration’ whether the
commodity shipped is ‘Harmful to the Marine Environment’ (HME) or not.
If the cargo is HME, any cargo residues – the limited quantities of dry
bulk materials left in the hold after unloading, including any cargo
entrained in washing water, will be explicitly defined as garbage under
MARPOL V.Ian Harrison, Intercargo’s Technical Manager, points out that this is creating confusion with shippers and owners alike; “Many responsible owners will have seen the Intercargo Briefing Note on the
changes but there is a possibility that shippers may not be aware of
their responsibilities for declaring HME cargoes on the Shippers
Declaration. Shippers who are not fully up to speed on the new
requirements are urged to seek assistance.”Owners and masters need to be aware of the cargo classification in
order to discharge cargo residues appropriately since the previously
agreed exemption defined in MEPC.1/Circ. 675/Rev.1 for ‘Special Areas’
such as the Mediterranean, the Wider Caribbean Area and the Gulfs, due
to their general inability to process Hold Washing Water (HWW), will no
longer apply after 1 January 2013.The discharge of cargo residues into the sea is permitted under
defined conditions when outside ‘Special Areas’ and at a range greater
than 12 miles from shore, and only when the cargo is not classified as
HME.Owners and masters will have to rely on Section 6.1.2 of MARPOL V to
permit discharge of residues and HWW in Special Areas in a limited range of circumstances – for example, the residue must not be deemed HME, the ship must be en route 12 nautical miles from land, there must be no
adequate facilities at either discharge or next loading port and both
ports are within the Special Area. Any residue that is HME must be
discharged into a reception facility which should be provided at the
receiving terminal.Intercargo will release an updated version of its ‘Terminal Problem
Reporting Form’ on 1 January 2013 to coincide with the regulatory
changes. Responses from all Bulk Carrier Masters will provide
information about the provision of facilities and general compliance by
all parties – including the Shippers, of compliance with the Amended
MARPOL V regulations.
WORLD SHIPPING
26 December 2012 - 08:24
Intercargo Expresses Worry about MARPOL Annex V Implementation
Intercargo has found a general lack of information and understanding concerning important changes to MARPOL Annex V
WORLD SHIPPING
26 December 2012 - 08:24
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