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Marpol Annex IV
-Sewage

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 1

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Annex IV: Sewage

 Optional Annex
 Entry into force: 27 September 2003
Existing vessels must comply by 27 September 2008

The 2004 Amendments - Entry into force: 1 August 2005

Existing vessels must comply by 1 August 2010

 Sewage Discharge Criteria

 Approved Sewage Treatment Plant
 Approved Comminute & Disinfect System
 Holding Tank
 Reception Facilities
 Standard discharge connections

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 2

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Sewage regulations
3 n.m

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 3

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Sewage Treatment Plant

Effluent Standards (refer MEPC- R159(55)
Four criteria by IMO:
• Suspended solids – 35 mg/liter maximum
• Faecal coliform bacteria– 200/100 ml
maximum
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BOD 5 – 25 mg/l maximum
• Residual chlorine content (not specified in IMO)
0.5 mg/l maximum
Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 4
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Physical-Chemical System
Operation
• Grey water collected in tank and chlorine added
for disinfecting & sodium hypochlorite to aid
flocculation
• Sewage is circulated from dosing tank to
comminutor and to chemical treatment tank –
converted to slurry.
• Slurry, by action of chemical, separate into
sludge and clear liquid in settling tank
(flocculation).
• Clear liquid is recirculated for toilet use.
Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 5
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Physical-Chemical System

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 6

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Chemical Sewage Treatment- Operation

• The system collect and store sewage in controlled

areas. Where legislation permits, wash basins, bath
and shower drains is discharged straight overboard.
• Various chemicals are added at different points for
odour, colour removal and to assist breakdown and
sterilisation
• A communitor is used to physically break up the
sewage and assist the chemical breakdown process.
• Solid material settles out in the tank and is stored
prior to discharge into the sullage tank.
• The liquid is recycled for flushing use.

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 7

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Chemical Sewage Treatment

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 8

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Biological Treatment Plant- Operation

Divided into aeration, settling and chlorination

compartment.
• Aeration compartment: aerobic bacteria and micro-
organisms break down human waste into carbon
dioxide, water and inert organic material to
produce new bacteria and organisms. Blower
supply air to bacteria
• Settling tank: allows bacteria to propagate under
quiet conditions. Deposited sludge is airlifted back
to aeration chamber. Surface skimmer removed
scum.
• Clear liquid passed to chlorinator until it reaches
the chlorinator compartment – bacteria killed.
Resulting harmless effluent is then discharged
Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 9
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Biological Treatment Plant

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 10

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•Multiple choice
questions

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 11

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MCQ Question
Which of the following is not a criteria in the
sewage effluent standards
A.pH value
B.suspended solids content
C.coliform count
D.biochemical oxygen demand.

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 12

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Q: Which of the following is not a requirement in

Marpol Annex IV?
A.Ships with moderate speeds can discharge the
untreated sewage at moderate rate outside 12
nm.
B.Ships with moderate speeds can discharge
comminuted and disinfected sewage outside 3
nm.
C.Sewage treatment plants complying with IMO
effluent standards can discharge within 3 nm.
D.Ships with less than 15 persons are exempted
from the requirements of annex IV.
Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 13
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Q: Which of the following statements relating to

biological sewage treatment plant is most
inaccurate?
A.The colony of aerobic bacteria can be destroyed
by certain chemicals used in WC.
B.The air is supplied by the air blower helps the
aerobic bacteria to break down the sewage.
C.The sludge return line helps to return bacteria to
the aeration chamber for further activity.
D.Chlorine is added to the water to help in
flocculation of the sludge.

Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 14

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Q; Which of the following statements relating to

physical chemical sewage treatment plant is
most inaccurate?
A.The chemical added helps to flocculate and
settle the solids in the settlement tank.
B.The clear filtered water is recycled as flushing
water to the water closets.
C.The solid sewage settled in the tank can be
transferred to the sullage tank.
D.The sullage tank can be emptied overboard
when the ship is outside port areas.
Marpol Annex IV- Sewage A1MC Semester 1 / ECS / January 2014/ KP 15