Tag: waste management

An introductory workshop on the core functions and purpose of the London Protocol was presented in Maputo, Mozambique from 1 through 2 February, providing relevant examples and experiences on the implementation of the Protocol which regulates the dumping of wastes at sea.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is extending, until 23 December, the period within which to submit comments on the preliminary affirmative decision that adequate sewage pump-out facilities are available for recreational and commercial vessels to support the Washington Department of Ecology’s proposed ‘No-Discharge Zone’ for waters of Puget Sound.

The US Department of Justice has announces that two Philippine engineers are to serve jail time for obstructing a U.S. Coast Guard inspection that took place in July 2015 aboard the cargo ship Ocean Hope at the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has stated that the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld the AMSA detention of the container ship OOCL Le Harve in Brisbane in May after a port state control inspection found that the vessel’s safety management system had failed to ensure that the crew had an adequate understanding of the rules relate to management and discharge of garbage at sea.

Wärtsilä has recently announced the development of a complete offering for handling dry waste in cruise ships, which complements the company’s portfolio for handling wet waste, thus providing a total waste management offering.

The ‘London Protocol’ entered into force ten years ago, modernizing the original “London Convention” dumping treaty by prohibiting all dumping at sea with the exception of wastes commonly agreed by Governments and then put on an approved list. Iran has become the latest country to accede to this IMO treaty.

Norwegian-owned Geminor has opened a new RDF waste import terminal, located between APM Terminals and the Gothenburg Roro Terminal at the Port of Gothenburg. RDF stands for Refuse Derived Fuel and is basically waste that has been sorted and baled.

The governing bodies of the London Convention and Protocol, at their joint session held at the IMO Headquarters in London expressed concern around the issue of litter and plastics in the marine environment.

The 1996 "London Protocol" covering the dumping of wastes at sea entered into force ten years ago (24th March 2006). The Protocol modernized the original “London Convention” dumping treaty, bringing in a so-called “precautionary approach” that heralded a new era of prohibition of all dumping at sea with the exception of wastes commonly agreed by Governments and then put on an approved list.

AMSA has issued Marine Notice to provide advise on how to ensure adequate waste reception facilities. The provision of adequate port waste reception facilities for ship-generated waste is vital to preventing marine pollution.