MARPOL Annex V

Summary

This script addresses the critical issue of marine pollution from ship waste, emphasizing the environmental damage and economic costs. It outlines the evolution of MARPOL Annex V, detailing regulations on garbage disposal at sea, and the shift towards minimizing waste production. The script highlights the importance of proper garbage management, including separation, storage, and disposal procedures, and the need for training to ensure compliance. It also touches on the unique challenges and restrictions faced by ships operating in polar waters.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Oceans are vast, but discarding waste into them is harmful, affecting marine life and ecosystems.
• 🚢 Historically, seafarers wrongly believed that disposing of garbage at sea was harmless.
• 🗑️ Marine debris, including plastic, takes a long time to degrade, with some plastics never fully breaking down.
• 🐟 Almost 5 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, with microscopic particles being absorbed by marine organisms and potentially contaminating the food chain.
• 💸 Marine waste is costly, impacting tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, and causing damage to harbors, with the Asia-Pacific region alone facing over a billion dollars in losses each year.
• 📜 MARPOL Annex V, which came into force in 1988, regulates the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships and has been revised over time to tighten waste management practices.
• 🚫 Since January 1, 2013, the disposal of all forms of garbage at sea has been prohibited, except under certain conditions and with exceptions for specific waste types.
• 📝 Ship owners and operators are required to have a garbage management plan, which includes procedures for handling, processing, storage, and discharge of waste.
• 🔄 The emphasis is on garbage minimization, processing to reduce volume, and promoting reuse or recycling of materials.
• 🌍 Special areas like the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Antarctic have stricter regulations, and the Polar Code adds extra restrictions for ships operating in polar waters.

Q & A

Why did seafarers in the past think that throwing rubbish overboard caused no harm?

Seafarers thought that due to the vastness of the oceans, the impact of their garbage would be negligible and not cause any harm.

What are the consequences of garbage from ships on the marine environment?

Garbage from ships contaminates the seas, kills wildlife and plants, litters beaches, and some substances take years to biodegrade, affecting the food chain.

How long does it take for certain materials to biodegrade in the ocean?

Painted wood takes 13 years, a tin can 50 years, an aluminum can 80 to 200 years, and plastic an estimated 450 years, with some types of plastic potentially never breaking down completely.

How much plastic enters the oceans every year?

Almost 5 million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year.

What is the economic impact of marine debris on various industries?

Marine debris harms tourism, agriculture, and aquaculture, and damages harbors, marinas, and power stations, with the cost in the Asia-Pacific region estimated at more than a billion dollars each year.

What is MARPOL Annex V and when did it enter into force?

MARPOL Annex V is an international regulation that entered into force in 1988, aimed at preventing pollution by garbage from ships and banning the disposal of plastic at sea.

What changes were made to MARPOL Annex V in 2011?

In 2011, MARPOL Annex V was revised to place a greater emphasis on the sustainable management of waste and on record-keeping, and it changed the rules regarding the disposal of garbage at sea.

What are the exceptions for garbage disposal at sea under MARPOL Annex V?

The exceptions under certain restrictions are food waste, animal carcasses, non-harmful cargo residues, and non-harmful cleaning agents.

What is required for ships under MARPOL Annex V to manage their garbage effectively?

Ships must have a garbage management plan based on the guidelines developed by the IMO, which includes procedures for the collection, processing, storage, and discharge of garbage.

How does MARPOL Annex V address the issue of garbage processing on ships?

Garbage processing on ships is addressed by requiring the reduction of volume through compaction, grinding, or incineration, and ensuring that all waste is securely stored until it can be discharged ashore.

What are the responsibilities of ship owners and operators under MARPOL Annex V?

Ship owners and operators are required to plan their garbage management strategy thoroughly, procure the necessary equipment, and ensure that crew members are trained in completing their ship-specific plans.

What are the restrictions on garbage disposal for ships operating in special areas or polar waters under MARPOL Annex V?

In special areas and polar waters, ships are restricted from discharging most types of garbage into the sea, with exceptions for certain non-harmful substances under specific conditions and distances from land or ice.

What is the importance of the garbage record book under MARPOL Annex V?

The garbage record book is essential for documenting all garbage-related activities on the ship, including discharges, incineration, and accidental losses, and must be kept on board for at least two years after the last entry.

What additional restrictions does the Polar Code impose on garbage disposal for ships operating in polar waters?

The Polar Code imposes additional restrictions, such as specific distances from ice for discharging certain types of waste and prohibitions on discharging harmful substances, ensuring that ships operating in polar waters have a minimal environmental impact.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Marine Pollution and Its Impact on the Environment

This paragraph discusses the historical misconception of seafarers regarding the harmlessness of discarding waste into the oceans. It highlights the long-term environmental damage caused by various materials, emphasizing the extended time required for biodegradation, such as 13 years for painted wood, 50-200 years for aluminum cans, and up to 450 years for plastic. The paragraph also touches on the significant amount of plastic entering the oceans annually, the risk of microplastics contaminating the food chain, and the economic implications of marine debris on tourism, agriculture, and aquaculture. It outlines the evolution of MARPOL Annex 5, which has progressively tightened regulations on marine waste, including a complete ban on plastic disposal at sea since 2013, and the requirement for ships to have a garbage management plan.

05:00

🚢 Implementing MARPOL Annex 5: Garbage Management on Ships

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of implementing MARPOL Annex 5, focusing on the responsibilities of ship owners and operators in managing garbage. It underscores the importance of training for officers to complete ship-specific plans and the necessity of minimizing garbage production on board to reduce storage needs and costs. The paragraph outlines strategies for garbage reduction, such as using reusable or recyclable packaging and avoiding disposable items. It also discusses the collection and separation of garbage according to MARPOL categories, the need for secure storage to prevent health and safety hazards, and the processing of garbage through compaction, grinding, or incineration. The paragraph concludes with the importance of following equipment manufacturer's instructions for processing and the need for special storage areas for garbage until it can be discharged ashore.

10:01

🗺 Disposal Regulations and Port Reception Facilities

This paragraph outlines the regulations for garbage disposal at sea, emphasizing that since January 1, 2013, most garbage must be taken to port reception facilities. It explains the process for ships to inquire about reception facilities and the need for advance notification of waste delivery. The paragraph details the restrictions on garbage disposal in special areas and polar waters, including the specific conditions under which certain types of waste can be discharged. It also addresses the requirements for ships and offshore platforms within these areas, the prohibition of certain types of waste discharge, and the need for reporting lost or accidentally discharged fishing gear. The paragraph concludes with the necessity for ships to display placards informing crew and passengers of garbage discharge requirements and the importance of maintaining a garbage record book with updated entries.

15:02

📝 Record-Keeping and Compliance with MARPOL Annex 5

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of record-keeping for ships and platforms covered by MARPOL Annex 5, with a focus on the revised garbage record book that reflects new garbage categories. It details the requirements for entries in the record book, including information on discharge or incineration, ship position, garbage category, and volume. The paragraph also discusses the additional restrictions imposed by the Polar Code for ships operating in polar waters and the potential consequences of non-compliance, such as legal prosecution and fines. It concludes by highlighting the collective responsibility for better garbage management to protect the oceans, marine life, and the environment for future generations.

Keywords

💡Marine Debris

Marine debris refers to any man-made waste material that ends up in the ocean. It is a central theme in the video, highlighting the environmental hazards caused by improper waste disposal from ships. The script mentions how marine debris can kill wildlife, contaminate the food chain, and litter beaches, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue.

💡Biodegrade

Biodegrade is the process by which organic materials are broken down by living organisms into simpler forms of matter. The video script discusses the varying times different materials take to biodegrade, such as painted wood, tin cans, aluminum cans, and plastics, to illustrate the long-lasting impact of marine debris on the environment.

💡Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is a specific type of marine debris that involves plastic materials. The script underscores the severity of plastic pollution, noting that almost 5 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually and that some plastics may never fully break down, contributing to the ongoing environmental crisis.

💡MARPOL Annex V

MARPOL Annex V is an international regulation aimed at preventing pollution by garbage from ships and banning the disposal of plastic at sea. The script details the evolution of Annex V, from its inception in 1988 to its revisions in 1998 and 2011, and the significant changes made in 2013 to strengthen the rules around garbage disposal at sea.

💡Garbage Management Plan

A garbage management plan is a strategy developed by ship owners and operators to comply with MARPOL Annex V. The script explains that these plans should outline the ship's equipment, arrangements for garbage handling, and procedures for collection, processing, storage, and discharge, which are crucial for minimizing waste and its environmental impact.

💡Best Management Practices (BMP)

BMPs are the most effective and practical methods to manage a particular environmental issue. The script suggests that BMPs from the International Standard ISO 210070 could be incorporated into the garbage management plan, provided they align with MARPOL Annex V requirements, to ensure proper waste management on ships.

💡Environmental Control Officer

The Environmental Control Officer is a designated person on a ship responsible for the implementation of the garbage management plan. The script mentions that relevant officers need training to complete their ship-specific plans, highlighting the importance of proper training in executing effective waste management strategies.

💡Garbage Minimization

Garbage minimization involves reducing the amount of waste generated on a ship. The script promotes minimizing garbage by using reusable or recyclable packaging, avoiding disposable items, and reusing materials, which not only reduces environmental impact but also storage space and disposal costs.

💡Port Reception Facilities

Port reception facilities are services provided at ports to receive and process ship-generated waste. The script explains that since January 1, 2013, any garbage that cannot be discharged into the sea must be delivered to these facilities, which underscores the importance of proper waste disposal infrastructure.

💡Special Areas

Special areas, as defined by MARPOL, are regions with unique environmental conditions that require stricter regulations for garbage disposal. The script lists several special areas, including the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Antarctic area, where additional restrictions apply to protect their ecosystems.

💡Garbage Record Book

The garbage record book is a log that ships must maintain to document all garbage disposal activities. The script notes that the book has been revised to reflect new garbage categories and that officers must be trained in the new record-keeping procedures, emphasizing the importance of accurate record-keeping for compliance and accountability.

Highlights

Seafarers historically believed that disposing of rubbish at sea was harmless, but this has been proven to be detrimental to marine life and ecosystems.

Garbage from ships can contaminate the seas, kill wildlife, and litter beaches, with substances like plastic taking hundreds of years to degrade.

Almost 5 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, posing a significant threat to marine organisms and potentially contaminating the food chain.

Marine debris is not only environmentally harmful but also economically costly, affecting tourism, agriculture, and aquaculture, with annual costs in the Asia-Pacific region exceeding a billion dollars.

The MARPOL Annex V, which came into force in 1988, regulates the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships and has been revised over time to strengthen waste management and record-keeping.

As of January 1, 2013, the disposal of all forms of garbage at sea has been largely prohibited, with only a few exceptions under specific conditions.

Ships must adhere to strict regulations for the management of different types of garbage, including plastics, food waste, and operational waste, with specific rules for handling potentially harmful materials.

Ship owners and operators are required to develop a comprehensive garbage management plan, detailing procedures for garbage handling, processing, storage, and discharge.

The International Standard ISO 210070 provides best practices for shipboard garbage management, which can be incorporated into the garbage management plan.

Garbage minimization is key to reducing storage space requirements and lowering costs associated with garbage management at sea.

Ships are encouraged to use reusable or recyclable packaging and avoid disposable items to minimize the volume of garbage generated on board.

Garbage processing methods such as compaction, grinding, and incineration help reduce the volume of waste for easier port discharge.

Garbage storage areas on ships must be secure, clearly marked, and regularly cleaned and disinfected to avoid health and safety hazards.

Since 2013, any garbage that cannot be discharged at sea must be taken to port reception facilities, with ships required to inquire about these facilities at least 24 hours in advance.

Special areas and polar waters have additional restrictions on garbage disposal, with some areas prohibiting the discharge of all but a few categories of garbage.

Ships must display placards notifying crew and passengers of garbage discharge requirements, ensuring awareness and compliance with MARPOL Annex V.

All ships and platforms covered by MARPOL Annex V must keep a garbage record book, recording all garbage management activities and ensuring transparency and accountability.

Non-compliance with MARPOL Annex V, including the illegal disposal of garbage and falsification of records, can result in legal consequences and substantial fines.

The Polar Code imposes additional restrictions for ships operating in polar waters, emphasizing the need for careful garbage management to protect these sensitive environments.

Compliance with MARPOL Annex V is crucial for the protection of marine ecosystems, beaches, and the future, highlighting the collective responsibility for better garbage management at sea.

Transcripts

the oceans are so vast that seafarers in

the past used to think that throwing

rubbish overboard cause no harm

they were wrong

garbage from ships contaminates the Seas

kills wildlife and plants and litters

the beaches

[Music]

many substances take years to biodegrade

painted wood 13 years

a tin can 50 years an aluminum can 80 to

200 years plastic an estimated 450 years

some types of plastic may never break

down completely

almost 5 million tons of plastic enter

our oceans every year

many marine organisms absorb the

microscopic particles of plastic and

these May contaminate the food chain

but Marine debris isn't just about the

environment it's expensive too harming

tourism

Agriculture and aquaculture damaging

Harbors marinas and power stations

in the asia-pacific region alone the

cost is estimated at more than a billion

dollars each year

all good reasons for the laws on Marine

waste to be tightened

yeah

[Music]

Marple Annex 5 entered into force in

1988 regulating the prevention of

pollution by garbage from ships and

banning the disposal of plastic at sea

in 1998 the regulations were amended

with a greater emphasis on the

sustainable management of waste and on

record keeping

in 2011 Annex 5 was revised again

this time in a more radical way

before most forms of garbage except for

plastic could be thrown into the sea as

long as this ship was Far Enough from

land

but since the 1st of January 2013 it's

been the other way round with a few

exceptions and under certain conditions

no form of garbage can be discharged

anywhere at sea

further changes in 2016 involved new

criteria for determining whether the

residues of solid bulk hangers were

harmful to the marine environment with

the shipper being responsible for

declaring whether or not they are

the exceptions under certain

restrictions are food waste animal

carcasses

non-harmful cargo residues

and non-harmful cleaning agents

all other categories of garbage have to

be kept on board

that includes Plastics cargo residues

that could be harmful to the environment

cooking oil

fishing gear

domestic waste and operational waste

operational waste means all solid wastes

including slurries that are collected on

board during normal maintenance or

operations or used for cargo storage and

handling

it also includes cleaning agents and

additives contained in cargo hold and

external wash water

gray water and similar discharges are

not counted as operational waste

the revised regulations require ship

owners and operators to plan their

garbage management strategy much more

thoroughly procure them

marpol Annex 5 applies to ships of 100

gross tons upwards ships certified to

carry 15 or more persons

and fixed and floating platforms

all must have a garbage management plan

based on the guidelines developed by the

Imo

[Music]

the plan should set out the ship's

equipment and arrangements for garbage

handling

it should list the written procedures

and crew responsibilities for the

collection

processing

storage and discharge of garbage

the best management practices for

shipboard garbage management

from International standard ISO

210070 could be incorporated into the

plan but only where they're consistent

with Annex 5. it's the marpol

requirements which are legally

enforceable

onboard responsibility for the garbage

management plan lies with a designated

person such as the environmental control

officer

the relevant officers will need training

in how to complete their ship specific

plans

the key to success is minimization

reducing potential garbage coming on

board will cut down on storage space and

cut costs when it comes to discharge in

the port or terminal

buying in supplies that come in reusable

or recyclable Packaging

avoiding disposable cups dishes towels

rags and supplies packaged in plastic

using permanent reusable coverings for

cargo protection and stowage systems and

methods that reuse dunnage Shoring and

lining materials

all these measures will cut down the

volume of garbage on board

but they'll need careful planning to

take account of the ship's size storage

space processing equipment and the

capacity of the port reception

facilities

the process starts with how the garbage

is collected

the person with responsibility for the

garbage management plan should assign

duties for the collecting and emptying

of the bins and make sure they're

carried out

garbage should first be separated out

according to the categories set out in

the garbage record book

following the revisions to marpol

adopted in October 2016 these are part

one

a Plastics

B food waste

C domestic wastes

the cooking oil

e incinerator ashes

F operational wastes

G animal carcasses

H fishing gear

i e waste

part two

cargo residues non-hme

cargo residues hme

the receptacle should be clearly marked

and placed in appropriate spaces

throughout the ship

food waste and any other garbage that

could present A Hazard to the ship or

crew such as oily Rags light bulbs acids

and medical waste should be kept apart

from the other types

containers holding food wastes and other

garbage that may carry disease or pests

should be kept tightly closed

and all storage bins should be securely

fixed so they can't move around

some countries have strict quarantine

laws to control human plant and animal

diseases carried by food and its

Packaging

the responsible officer should find out

whether food waste will need to be

incinerated sterilized or double-backed

although not mentioned in Annex 5 the

collection of medical waste needs

Special Care

unprotected contaminated sharps mixed

with other garbage could injure the

people handling them

because all medical wastes are

potentially infectious they should be

stored and disposed of in line with

company procedures

processing the garbage that's been

collected will reduce its volume and

make it easier to discharge in Port

processing is done by compaction

grinding or incineration

a compactor compresses the garbage into

a dense block of material

a grinder reduces food and other waste

into small particles this speeds up the

natural biological processes which break

down the food

most garbage can be incinerated but the

resulting Ash and clinkers must be kept

on board

with all these methods it's essential to

follow the equipment manufacturer's

instructions

once the garbage has been collected and

processed it may need to be kept in

special storage areas until it can be

discharged ashore

access to these areas should be kept

clear

the different types of garbage should be

separated out into clearly marked

containers to avoid mistakes in Port

these two need to be firmly secured

all garbage should be stored so that it

avoids health and safety hazards and the

storage areas should be regularly

cleaned and disinfected

since the 1st of January 2013

any garbage that can't be discharged

into the sea should be taken to a port

reception facility

the ship should ask the agent at least

24 hours in advance about the reception

facilities in the port

the master of the ship can also check

directly with the Port Authority or

Harbor Master above the availability of

reception facilities

or this information can be found in

gisis the Imo's Global integrated

shipping information system

Port reception facilities may need to be

informed beforehand about the waste

that's to be delivered

forms for advanced notification and for

reporting problems at reception

facilities are available from the IMO

website

in Europe a standard notification form

has to be used

are only allowed to discharge the

permitted categories of garbage into the

sea when the ship is underway and as far

away as possible from the nearest land

but even then there are many

restrictions

they depend on the distance from Shore

and whether or not the ship is in a

special area

or operating in polar Waters

the latter now include Arctic Waters as

well as the previously defined Antarctic

special area under Marple Annex 5.

the special areas are the Mediterranean

Sea area

the Baltic Sea area

the Black Sea area

the Red Sea area

the ghost area

the North Sea area

the Antarctic area

and The Wider Caribbean region

within special areas and polar Waters if

the ship is 12 nautical miles or more

from land or the nearest ice shelf it

may discharge

ground food waste

non-harmful cargo residues contained in

wash water

and non-harmful cleaning agents and

additives in cargo hold wash water

non-harmful cleaning agents and

additives in deck and external surfaces

wash water may be discharged anywhere in

a special area but the discharge of

cargo residues not contained in wash

water is prohibited even if they are

non-harmful to the marine environment

the discharge of all other garbage is

prohibited in a special area

Offshore platforms that are more than 12

nautical miles from land and All Ships

that are either alongside or within 500

meters of these platforms are also

subject to Annex 5 restrictions

they may discharge ground food waste but

no other category of garbage

inside a special area ground food waste

can only be discharged when the ship is

more than three nautical miles from the

nearest land

for non-ground food waste the distance

must be more than 12 nautical miles

of nautical miles is also the minimum

distance for cargo residues on condition

that they can't harm the marine

environment

[Music]

non-harmful cleaning agents and

additives in cargo hold deck and

external surfaces wash water may be

discharged anywhere whether in or out of

a special area

cleaning agents or additives contained

in the wash water from cargo hold deck

and external surfaces that are harmful

to the marine environment may not be

discharged either inside or outside a

special area

carcasses of animals carried as cargo

which died during the voyage may only be

discharged outside a special area but

not in polar Waters

it's recommended that this takes place

at more than 100 nautical miles from

land and in the maximum water depth

possible

the revised Annex 5 also prohibits the

discharge into the sea of any solid bulk

cargo residue that contains substances

the shipper has declared as harmful to

the marine environment

ships will need to check beforehand with

the port reception facilities whether

they can handle these residues

if any fishing gear that could pose a

significant threat to the environment or

navigation is lost or accidentally

discharged this must be reported to the

flag state

if this occurs in the waters of a

coastal state it must also be reported

to the state authorities

shape of 12 meters or more in length and

fixed or floating platforms must display

placards which notify the crew and

passengers of garbage discharge

requirements

a card should be placed in prominent

places in the crew and passenger

accommodation and recreational areas

all shapes and platforms covered by

Annex 5 must keep a garbage record book

the book has now been revised so that it

has Parts one and two to reflect the new

garbage categories and officers who

write in it will need to be trained in

the new record-keeping procedures

entries must be made whenever garbage is

discharged to a reception facility

ashore or to other ships

when garbage is incinerated

when garbage is discharged into the sea

and whenever there's been an accidental

loss or exceptional discharge at Sea in

this case the reason and general remarks

must also be given

each entry has to include the date and

time of the discharge or incineration

the position of the ship the category of

the garbage and its estimated volume in

cubic meters each column must be

completed the discharge of cargo

residues the discharge start and stop

positions must also be recorded

each entry must be signed by the officer

in charge of the operation and each

completed page must be signed by the

master

[Music]

the polar code imposes additional

restrictions on garbage disposal for

ships operating in polar Waters and

these are described in more detail in

the workbook which accompanies this

program

note that for cargo residues that cannot

be recovered during commonly available

methods for unloading if the loading and

destination ports are both within Arctic

Waters and the ship doesn't leave such

Waters during Transit

then cargo hold washing water may be

discharged provided it does not contain

any substance harmful to the marine

environment

and that the prescribed distance from

Ice is met

the administration may decide not to

require a garbage record book for any

ship that's engaged on Voyages of one

hour or less and certified to carry 15

or more persons or for fixed or floating

platforms

for all other ships the garbage record

book must be completed correctly kept on

board for at least two years after the

last entry along with receipts obtained

from reception facilities and open for

inspection at all times

foreign X5 is not simply a set of

guidelines

charging garbage which is prohibited

under Annex 5 and falsifying entries in

the garbage record book are both illegal

they can result in prosecutions and

substantial fines which won't

necessarily be covered by the company's

insurance

if the violation occurs in U.S Waters

crew members may be held as Witnesses

for many months while investigations

take place

the revised marpol Annex 5 significantly

changes the approach to shipboard

garbage management

first time most garbage has to be

delivered to Port reception facilities

the emphasis is on garbage minimization

on processing to reduce the volume and

on the ReUse or recycling of materials

garbage must be separated out when it's

collected and securely stored

for placards about the Banning of

garbage disposal into the sea must be

clearly displayed the polar code imposes

additional restrictions on garbage

disposal the ships operating in polar

Waters

the garbage record book has changed

training of officers and crew in the

correct management of garbage and in the

operation of processing equipment is

essential

complying with Marple Annex 5 is in all

our interests for the sake of our oceans

and the life within them

our beaches

our future

better garbage management is everyone's

responsibility for a cleaner and safer

world