Revised MARPOL Annex V – IMO overview
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a simplified overview of the revised version of MARPOL Annex V (Garbage), which comes into effect on 1 January 2013 and will introduce stricter controls on the disposal of garbage from ships at sea.
The new Annex requires that the discharge of all garbage into the sea is prohibited, except as expressly provided otherwise. The discharges permitted while en route include food wastes, cargo residues and water used for washing deck and external surfaces containing cleaning agents or additives which are not harmful to the marine environment. However there is an exception to the en route requirement with the discharge of food wastes where it is clear the retention on board presents an imminent health risk to the people on board.
There are several new definitions in the revised Annex including cargo residues, cooking oil, domestic wastes, fishing gear, food wastes, incinerator ashes, operational wastes and plastics. All of these definitions are now incorporated in the revised general description for garbage, and are categorised in the Garbage Record Book.
The revised MARPOL Annex V was adopted on 15 July 2011 in resolution MEPC.201(62) and it will enter into force on 1 January 2013.
The IMO simplified overview of the revised Marpol Annex V (resolution MEPC.201(62)) can be found here.
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