Wider Caribbean Region Special Area
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announces the date for the entry into effect of discharge requirements from ships in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) special area (SA) as specified in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex V, Regulation 5 and Coast Guard regulations. MARPOL Annex V and the US regulations apply to vessel and reception facility activities in the WCR region.
The date of entry for discharge requirements in the WCR SA as 1 May 2011 was adopted via IMO Resolution MEPC.191(60).
The discharge restrictions are contained in 33 CFR 151.71 which reads in full as follows:
(a) When a ship is located in a special area referenced in 151.53 of this part, no person may discharge garbage from the ship, except as allowed in paragraph (b) or (c) in this section.
(b)Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, disposal into the sea of victual waste must be made as far as practicable from land but, in any case, not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.
(c)Disposal into the Wider Caribbean region of victual wastes which have been passed through a comminuter or grinder shall be made as far as practicable from land but, in any case, not less than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land. Such comminuted or ground food wastes shall be capable of passing through a screen with opening no greater than 25 millimetres.
The above-mentioned discharge restrictions will apply effective 1 May 2011.
Members are advised to incorporate the above provisions into their garbage management procedures for their vessels.
For more information on USCG Notice from the Federal Register, please see related links below.
Source: Chamber of Shipping of America
