December 20, 2012 | n59

The scope of the Marine Information Notice publication is to provide the Shipping Sector with information relevant to RINA, its organization, initiatives and services as well as to disseminate information of a general nature which in RINA view may be of interest. The information provided does not intend to be exhaustive and is given for reference only.

Revised MARPOL Annex V

1. Introduction IMO adopted on 15 July 2012 the Resolution MEPC.201(62) relevant to some amendments to the Annex of MARPOL 73/78 that in brief may be stated as the REVISED MARPOL ANNEX V - REGULATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY GARBAGE FROM SHIPS that will enter into force on 1 January 2013. 2. The rules in short Revised vs. Previous MARPOL Annex V The quoted amendments review the Annex V by adding some requirements and clarifying some other. In the following, for each regulation, the major differences are identified and explained in brief; however for a complete and in depth analysis reference is to be made to the original text of the mentioned IMO Resolution. Regulation 1 Definitions There are several new definitions of materials which are being considered under the general term garbage; from entering into force date of the amendment, garbage means any of the following items (each of them separately defined): i) Animal carcasses ii) Cargo residues iii) Cooking oil iv) Domestic wastes v) Fishing gear vi) Food wastes vii) Operational wastes viii) Plastic Other new definitions appearing in the revised text of the Regulation 1 are: ix) Incinerator ashes x) En route New definition related to the new requirements for discharge into the sea xi) Fixed or floating platforms New definition missing in the previous text xii) Nearest land As previous xiii) Special area The area is not changed, just defined univocally in the definitions instead of in the previous Reg. 5 Regulation 2 Application No difference Regulation 3 General prohibition on discharge of garbage into the sea. This regulation introduced the new concept of general prohibition of discharge into the sea of all garbage, except the allowed ones and at the conditions specified.

IN THIS ISSUE:
REVISED MARPOL ANNEX V - REGULATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY GARBAGE FROM SHIPS

For further information please contact: Carlo Aiachini Head of Machinery & Automation Unit RINA Services SpA Regulatory Affairs Classification Sector Via Corsica, 12 - 16128 Genova - ITALY Tel +39 010 5385312 e-mail: carlo.aiachini@rina.org

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Regulation 4 Discharge of garbage outside special areas The term disposal has been changed into discharge. The discharge is only permitted while the ship is en route (new definition stated in Reg. 1.) In addition to this, the new regulations only allow the discharge into the sea of the following categories: food wastes cargo residues animal carcasses authorized cleaning agents the previously applicable requirements concerning the distances from the nearest land, and treatment remain valid. Therefore, the discharge into the sea of paper/rags/glass/metal/bottles/crockery and similar waste is not any more allowed, being it comminuted or not. Regulation 5 Special requirements for discharge of garbage from fixed or floating platforms. The applicable requirements are now highlighted in a dedicated regulation, under a specific definition of fixed or floating platforms. Regulation 6 Discharge of garbage within special areas The considerations made for the discharge outside special area remain valid, but more stringent requirements, relevant to distances from the nearest land and treatment of the food waste are applicable. Moreover, discharge of cargo residues will only be permitted under specific condition. Regulation 7 Exception The basic exceptions remain the same as in previous text, i.e. the requirements on garbage discharge shall not apply in case of: discharge for the purpose of securing the safety of the ship or life at sea accidental loss of garbage resulting from damage to a ship accidental loss of fishing gear discharge of fishing gear for the protection of the marine environment or for the safety of that ship or its crew A new principle is adopted: the requirement to discharge while the ship is en route shall not apply to the discharge of food waste if its retention on board present an imminent health risk to the people on board. Regulation 8 Reception facilities In general there are no difference. Some additional requirements are stated for the Administration of the coastal State Party of the convention, within the special areas. Regulation 9 Port State control on operational requirements No difference

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Regulation 10 Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record-keeping. According to the revised text: ships of 100 GT and above (instead of the previous 400 GT) or certified to carry 15 or more person and fixed or floating platform are required to have on board a garbage management plan and not only placards as previously required. In this case in the absence of a garbage record book, entries shall be made in the ship's official log-book. 3. Documentation As per previous annex no Certificate is foreseen to be issued. The Garbage Management Plan is to be amended according to the new requirements and according to the new issued GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GARBAGE MANAGEMENT PLANS published in IMO Resolution MEPC.220(63) -. In addition to the above the new form of Garbage Record Book must be provided on board ships of 400 GT and above.