SQE MARINE consulting company issued a circular reminding that the amendments to MARPOL Annex V, adopted at IMO MEPC 70 last October, concerning substances that are harmful to the marine environment (HME) and form of Garbage Record Book (GRB), are entering into force on 1st March 2018.
As noted, amendments adopted at MEPC 70 mandate that solid bulk cargoes, shall be classified in accordance with the criteria specified in the 2012 Guidelines for the implementation of MARPOL Annex V MEPC. 219(63) and the declaration provided by the shipper as to whether or not they are harmful to the marine environment.
The amendments that were adopted by Resolution MEPC.277(70) include the following:
- Amendments to Regulation 4 and 6 of the Annex V of the MARPOL Convention (garbage discharge provisions) providing criteria for the classification of solid bulk.
- Form of Garbage Record Book (GRB) improved in order to distinguish the information on delivery/discharge to Port Reception Facilities of cargo residues. The main change is that the Record of Garbage Discharges is divided into Part I and Part II. Part I will be for the use of all ships and Part II will be only required for ships that carry solid bulk cargoes.
- New category of garbage “e-waste” is included in form of GRB. E-waste is defined as any electronic equipment, including its components, sub-assemblies and consumables, when disposed of as a waste.
- Additional table introduced in Part I of the form of GRB.
- Alignment of the Regulation 10 of the Annex V to amended form of GRB.
Further, in order for the ship managers to be aligned with the revised MARPOL Annex V Garbage Requirements, they should:
- have an effective updated Garbage Management Plan & Record Book,
- instruct their crews to mark the new Garbage Types on board regarding the “E-Waste” and “Cargo Residues”.
Explore more at the following document:
