The US Coast Guard (USCG) has published a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) to inform the maritime industry about the updated criteria for maintaining a garbage record book (GRB).
These modifications stem from the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adoption of changes to MARPOL Annex V Regulation 10 – Placards, garbage management plans, and garbage record-keeping.
Effective from May 1, 2024, as per the amendments to MARPOL Annex V in MEPC.360(79), the following vessels must maintain and record entries in a garbage record book (or a logbook for vessels under 100 GT):
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All ships of 100 gross tons and above making voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of another Annex V Party.
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All ships certified to carry 15 or more persons making voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of another Annex V Party.
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All fixed or floating platforms.
The United States is a signatory to MARPOL Annex V (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships), which stipulates garbage record-keeping requirements. The U.S. enforces the MARPOL Protocol, as outlined in 33 U.S.C. 1901(a)(4), through the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). (Refer to 33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.)
The U.S. has endorsed the Annex V amendments in MEPC.360(79), as indicated in APPS. APPS makes Annex V applicable to both U.S. flagged and non-U.S. flagged ships within U.S. navigable waters and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). (Refer to 33 U.S.C. 1902.) Consequently, these amendments will override any existing Coast Guard regulations that conflict with the amendments.
