UN's tighter rules on garbage disposal at sea come into force January 1
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation has recently published new rules on the disposal of ship garbage it said comes into force from January, reports the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA).
Dunnage, loose packing material to protect cargo in transit, can no longer be discharged anywhere at sea as it is not classified as "operational waste", said the WGMA, which represents the shipping community on the Texas coast.
Discharge of garbage such as food waste, domestic waste, cargo residue and operational waste into the sea will be prohibited except in very few circumstances, said the report.
Since US Coast Guard regulations require terminals to have the ability to receive APHIS (US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) regulated garbage within 24 hours of notice, members are urged to use the IMO Standard Advance Notification in order to protect a vessel's interests.
Under the new rules, garbage means all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes and operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and liable tobe disposed of continuously etc, said he report.
The "Wider Caribbean Region" includes the Gulf of Mexico as a "special area" with additional restrictions for garbage disposal. Discharge of garbage into the sea is prohibited except outside special areas and only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than three nautical miles from land, according to the new rules.
Only "cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading" may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area and only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than 12 nautical miles from land.
Under the rules only "cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading" may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area and subject to additional restrictions.
Each party to the UN treaty "undertakes to ensure the provision of adequate facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage without causing undue delay to ships, and according to the needs of the ships using them", said the report.
The US is a party to MARPOL and the requirements related to garbage can be found at 19 CFR 158.400-420. For daily operational purposes these regulations require that each day port or terminal is in operation, the port or terminal must provide or ensure the availability of a facility capable of receiving all garbage a ship desires to discharge and is capable of receiving APHIS regulated garbage within 24 hours after notice is given if it handles ships in foreign commerce.
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation has recently published new rules on the disposal of ship garbage it said comes into force from January, reports the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA).
Dunnage, loose packing material to protect cargo in transit, can no longer be discharged anywhere at sea as it is not classified as "operational waste", said the WGMA, which represents the shipping community on the Texas coast.
Discharge of garbage such as food waste, domestic waste, cargo residue and operational waste into the sea will be prohibited except in very few circumstances, said the report.
Since US Coast Guard regulations require terminals to have the ability to receive APHIS (US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) regulated garbage within 24 hours of notice, members are urged to use the IMO Standard Advance Notification in order to protect a vessel's interests.
Under the new rules, garbage means all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes and operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and liable tobe disposed of continuously etc, said he report.
The "Wider Caribbean Region" includes the Gulf of Mexico as a "special area" with additional restrictions for garbage disposal. Discharge of garbage into the sea is prohibited except outside special areas and only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than three nautical miles from land, according to the new rules.
Only "cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading" may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area and only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than 12 nautical miles from land.
Under the rules only "cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading" may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area and subject to additional restrictions.
Each party to the UN treaty "undertakes to ensure the provision of adequate facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage without causing undue delay to ships, and according to the needs of the ships using them", said the report.
The US is a party to MARPOL and the requirements related to garbage can be found at 19 CFR 158.400-420. For daily operational purposes these regulations require that each day port or terminal is in operation, the port or terminal must provide or ensure the availability of a facility capable of receiving all garbage a ship desires to discharge and is capable of receiving APHIS regulated garbage within 24 hours after notice is given if it handles ships in foreign commerce.