On April 18-22 IMO held its 69th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Among others the outcome of the Committee declined to extend International Maritime Organization (IMO) Circular MEPC.1/Circ.810 “Adequate port reception facilities for cargoes declared as harmful to the marine environment under MARPOL Annex V”.
In this Circular the Committee had agreed that, until 31 December 2015, cargo hold washwater from holds previously containing solid bulk cargoes classified as HME may be discharged outside special areas, providing:
- based upon the information received from the relevant port authorities, the master determines that there are no adequate reception facilities either at the receiving terminal or at the next port of call
- the ship is en route and as far as practicable from the nearest land, but not less than 12 nautical miles
- before washing, solid bulk cargo residue is removed (and bagged for discharge ashore) as far as practicable and holds are swept
- filters are used in the bilge wells to collect any remaining solid particles and minimize solid residue discharge and
- the discharge is recorded in the Garbage Record Book and the flag State is notified utilizing the Revised Consolidated Format for Reporting Alleged Inadequacies of Port Reception Facilities (MEPC.1/Circ.469/Rev.2)
New requirements
The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code), revisions to which come into effect 01 January 2017 (in new subsection 4.2.2.2), will require cargo information to include whether or not the cargo is HME. Despite the gap in guidance, the 69th session of the MEPC of the IMO declined to extend IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.810. Because MEPC 69 did not approve the proposal to extend the application of IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.810:
- Cargo hold washwater from holds previously containing solid bulk cargoes classified as HME MUST ONLY be discharged at port State reception facilities; and
- Cargo hold washwater from holds previously containing solid bulk cargoes that were not classified as HME are encouraged to discharge them at an adequate port State reception facility, however, until 01 January 2017, discharge is permitted 12 or more nautical miles from the nearest land and en route for ships outside of special areas. For ships within special areas, discharge is only permitted in specific circumstances 12 or more nautical miles from the nearest land, and en route. Specific Circumstances according to MARPOL Regulation V/6.1.2:
- both the port of departure and the next port of destination are within the special area and the ship will not transit outside the special area between these ports (regulation 6.1.2.2)
- if no adequate reception facilities are available at those ports (regulation 6.1.2.3).
Also note that all of the guidance offered by IMO on adequate port State reception facilities has been consolidated into IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.834.
Actions required
Ship managers in order to be in line with Garbage Disposal requirements should have an effective updated Garbage Management Plan & Record Book on board managed vessel. Additionally special training sessions to be conducted on board in order to familiarize personnel with updated requirements. In case managed vessels face difficulties with Port Reception Facilities, Masters should forward relevant report (as per Annex 1 of MEPC.1/Circ834), together with any supporting documentation, to the Administration of the flag State and, if possible, to the competent Authorities in the port State.
Source:SQEMARINE /Garbage Management Plan
