Section 17.3 Annex V: Garbage Management (Garbage Record Book, Segregation, Disposal)

MARPOL Annex V aims to eliminate and reduce the amount of garbage being discharged into the sea from ships. Garbage is a significant source of marine pollution, harming marine life and coastal environments. For bulk carriers, managing operational and sometimes cargo-associated waste is a key responsibility.

Key Requirements and Aspects for Bulk Carriers:

1. Definition of Garbage: Garbage includes all kinds of victual (food), domestic, and operational waste, all plastics, cargo residues, incinerator ashes, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and liable to be disposed of continuously or periodically. It does not include fresh fish and parts thereof generated as a result of fishing activities.

2. General Prohibition on Discharge of Plastics:

The discharge of ALL plastics into the sea is PROHIBITED. This includes but is not limited to synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, plastic garbage bags, and incinerator ashes from plastic products.

3. Garbage Management Plan (GMP):

Mandatory Requirement: Every ship of 100 gross tonnage and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 persons or more, and fixed or floating platforms, shall carry a Garbage Management Plan. All bulk carriers fall under this requirement.

Content: The GMP provides written procedures for minimizing, collecting, storing, processing, and disposing of garbage, including the use of equipment onboard. It should designate the person responsible for carrying out the plan.

Language: The GMP must be in the working language of the crew.

Approval: While the GMP itself does not require formal approval by the Administration, it must be developed in accordanceance with IMO guidelines (e.g., MEPC.220(63)).

4. Garbage Record Book (GRB):

Mandatory Requirement: Every ship of 400 gross tonnage and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 persons or more engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of another Party to the Convention, and every fixed or floating platform, shall be provided with a Garbage Record Book (Part I and Part II for ships carrying solid bulk cargoes).

Part I (All Garbage): For all ships. Records discharges to sea, to reception facilities, or incineration.

Part II (Cargo Residues): Specifically for ships that carry solid bulk cargoes. Records the discharge of cargo residues.

Entries: Each discharge operation or completed incineration shall be recorded in the GRB and signed for on the date of the discharge or incineration by the officer in charge. Each completed page of the GRB shall be signed by the Master of the ship.

Accuracy and Integrity: The GRB is a legal document. Entries must be accurate, timely, and complete.

Retention: The GRB must be kept onboard for a period of two years after the last entry has been made.

Categories of Garbage: The GRB requires entries to be categorized:

A: Plastics

B: Food wastes

C: Domestic Wastes (e.g., paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery)

D: Cooking Oil

E: Incinerator ashes

F: Operational wastes (not covered by other categories)

G: Cargo residues (non-Harmful to the Marine Environment – non-HME)

H: Cargo residues (Harmful to the Marine Environment – HME)

I: E-waste (electronic waste)

5. Segregation of Garbage:

Garbage must be segregated onboard to ensure proper disposal according to Annex V rules. Separate, clearly marked bins should be provided for different categories of garbage (e.g., plastics, food waste, domestic waste, operational waste, recyclable materials).

6. General Discharge Provisions (Outside Special Areas):

Food Wastes (comminuted or ground): Can be discharged en route, as far as practicable from the nearest land, but not less than 3 nautical miles if comminuted or ground (passing through a screen with openings no greater than 25 mm).

Food Wastes (not comminuted or ground): Can be discharged en route, as far as practicable from the nearest land, but not less than 12 nautical miles.

Cargo Residues (non-HME): Can be discharged en route, outside 12 nautical miles from the nearest land. Cannot be discharged if they contain any cleaning agents or additives harmful to the marine environment. Hold washing water containing cargo residues may be discharged under specific conditions.

Animal Carcasses: Discharge permitted only en route and as far from the nearest land as possible. Specific IMO guidelines should be followed.

Cleaning Agents/Additives in Hold Wash Water: Discharge of cleaning agents or additives contained in cargo hold washing water is prohibited unless they are not harmful to the marine environment (non-HME) and are discharged outside 12 NM.

Other Garbage (Domestic Wastes, Operational Wastes, Incinerator Ashes not from plastics): Generally must be discharged to port reception facilities. Some operational wastes (not containing plastics or other prohibited substances) may be discharged under specific conditions if en route and as far as practicable from land.

7. Discharge Provisions within Special Areas: MARPOL Annex V designates certain sea areas as “Special Areas” due to their unique oceanographic and ecological conditions and particular sea traffic. These include: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, “Gulfs” area, North Sea, Antarctic area, and Wider Caribbean Region.

Stricter Rules: Discharge rules are much stricter in Special Areas.

Plastics: Discharge prohibited.

Food Wastes: Discharge permitted only if en route, as far as practicable from land (not less than 12 nautical miles), and must be comminuted or ground. Some Special Areas may have even stricter or total prohibitions.

Cargo Residues (non-HME): Discharge permitted only under very strict conditions, including being en route, more than 12 NM from land, no land in sight, and specific port state agreements may apply. For cargo residues classified as HME, discharge is prohibited.

Other Garbage: Generally, all other garbage must be discharged to port reception facilities.

Arctic Waters: Have specific additional requirements similar to Special Areas.

8. Cargo Residues for Bulk Carriers:

Classification: Crucial to classify cargo residues as Harmful to the Marine Environment (HME) or non-HME based on criteria in MARPOL Annex V and MEPC guidelines. Shippers are responsible for declaring if a solid bulk cargo is HME.

HME Cargo Residues: Discharge into the sea is PROHIBITED. Must be landed at port reception facilities.

Non-HME Cargo Residues:

Outside Special Areas: Can be discharged en route, ≥12 NM from nearest land.

Inside Special Areas: Discharge is generally prohibited unless specific conditions are met (e.g., for the Antarctic area, discharge is prohibited). If permitted, it must be ≥12 NM from nearest land and ice-shelf, and the port of departure and next port of call must be within the Special Area, and no adequate reception facilities are available.

Hold Washing Water: Water from washing cargo holds containing non-HME residues can be discharged outside 12 NM (outside Special Areas) and under stricter conditions within some Special Areas if specific criteria are met. If containing HME residues, it cannot be discharged.

9. Placards:

Ships of 12 meters or more in length and fixed or floating platforms shall display placards which notify the crew and passengers of the discharge requirements of Annex V.

These placards should be in the working language of the ship’s crew and, for ships carrying passengers, also in English, French, or Spanish.

10. Shipboard Processing Equipment:

Incinerators: If used, shipboard incinerators must be type-approved and operated according to Annex VI regulations. Ashes from plastic incineration are considered plastic and cannot be discharged.

Compactors and Grinders: Can be used to reduce the volume of garbage and to comminute food waste for legal discharge.

11. Port Reception Facilities:

Parties to MARPOL are obliged to ensure the provision of adequate port reception facilities for garbage without causing undue delay to ships.

Ships should report any inadequacies of port reception facilities to their Flag Administration.

Best Practices for Bulk Carriers:

Minimize Generation: Implement practices to reduce the amount of garbage generated onboard (e.g., careful purchasing, avoiding over-packaging).

Effective Segregation: Train crew thoroughly in garbage segregation using clearly marked bins.

Accurate Record Keeping: Maintain meticulous and accurate records in the Garbage Record Book.

Cargo Hold Cleaning: Plan hold cleaning operations carefully, considering the nature of the cargo residues and applicable discharge regulations. Ensure cargo declarations clearly state if residues are HME.

Training and Awareness: Regularly train all crew on MARPOL Annex V requirements, the ship’s GMP, and the importance of protecting the marine environment.

Utilize Reception Facilities: Make maximum use of port reception facilities for all garbage, especially plastics and HME cargo residues.

Pre-planning: Before arrival in port, liaise with agents to confirm availability and procedures for using garbage reception facilities.

Compliance with MARPOL Annex V is critical for preventing marine litter, which has devastating effects on marine ecosystems and can also pose a hazard to navigation. Bulk carriers, with their potential for large volumes of cargo residues, must be particularly diligent.