Under Annex V of the MARPOL Convention, garbage includes all kinds of food, domestic and operational waste generated during the regular operation of the vessel.
For centuries seafarers have thrown their garbage 'over the side'. However, the waste products of the past were, in general, made from natural biodegradable materials.
Everyone working onboard is responsible for garbage management. Garbage must be disposed of strictly following the shipboard safety management procedures, International and local laws. There is no exception to this rule.
Galley staff must ensure all waste products generated by the galley are segregated and disposed of according to MARPOL.
Revised MARPOL Annex V (entered into force on 1st January 2013) to prevent pollution by garbage from ships. Key requirements are:
it is prohibited to dispose of all garbage at sea unless permitted in the regulations
severe restrictions on the distance from the nearest land where other types of ship-generated garbage can be thrown away
the creation of 'Special Areas' which require special methods of garbage discharge.
Annex V also states that governments must ensure the provision of facilities at ports and terminals for receiving garbage (reception facilities).
Garbage Management Plan
Under Annex V, garbage means all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes, and operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the regular operation of the ship.
Garbage is to be grouped into categories for the garbage record book as follows.
Garbage category
Garbage Management
It is the responsibility of each owner/operator and ship's crew that waste is managed and disposed of in ways that prevent harm.
For this reason, and as per MARPOL Guidelines for Implementation of Annex V, all ships of 400 gross tonnages and above and ships certified to carry 15 persons or more must take a Garbage Management Plan that will include written procedures for collecting, storing, processing and disposing of garbage, including the use of equipment on board.
The Garbage Management Plan should designate the person responsible for carrying out the plan and should be in the working language of the crew.
The recordkeeping element of MARPOL Annex V, Regulation 9 requires that every ship of 400 tons gross and above and ships certified to carry 15 persons or more engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other Parties to the Convention and every fixed and floating platform involved in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed, shall be provided with a Garbage Record Book. The Garbage Record Book, whether as a part of the ship's official logbook or otherwise, shall be in the form specified in MARPOL Annex V.
For guidance and compliance with requirements, please consult your vessel's Garbage Management Plan and Company Safety Management System.
Food Waste Disposal
Disposal requirements of waste generally generated by the galley are shown in the table.
Be aware that cooking oil must never be mixed with food waste or discharged overboard.
Garbage category : time to dissolve at sea
Ship Waste
Ship waste can contain hazardous microbial, chemical, or physical agents. As the number of vessels in service increases, so does the risk of harm from improperly managed ship wastes.
Ship waste includes sewage, greywater (discard water from deck drains, showers, dishwashers, and laundries), ballast water, medical residues, food waste, etc.
Food waste and refuse, in particular, can attract disease vectors such as rodents, flies, and cockroaches.
Unsafe management and disposal of ship waste can lead to adverse health consequences for the ship's crew and other humans, the habitat, and the environment.
Vessel General Permit
The United States of America has introduced stricter discharge limitations in a permit called the Vessel General Permit (VGP).
When within 3 nm from the US shore, you must use detergents and soaps, which are:
phosphate-free (< 0.5% phosphates or derivates)
nontoxic
non-bio-accumulative.
Clean dishes properly before rinsing to avoid food, oil, and grease residue going into the greywater system. Do not add cooking oils into grey or black water.
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