MARPOL Annex IV: Sewage Pollution Prevention

SEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTIONSEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTION

Marpol Annex IV Marpol Annex IV

September 2009September 2009

SEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTIONSEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTION((Marpol 73/78 Annex IV)Marpol 73/78 Annex IV)

1. Shipboard Sewage Pollution Sources:1. Shipboard Sewage Pollution Sources:

• • drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals;drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals;• • drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sickbay, drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sickbay, etc.) via wash basins, wash tubs and scuppersetc.) via wash basins, wash tubs and scuppers located in such premises;located in such premises;• • drainage from spaces containing living animals; drainage from spaces containing living animals; • • other waste waters when mixed with the drainages other waste waters when mixed with the drainages defined above.defined above.

(Regulations not applicable to the disposal of:(Regulations not applicable to the disposal of:drainage from dishwasher, shower, laundry, bath and washbasin drainage from dishwasher, shower, laundry, bath and washbasin ddrainsrains - grey- grey water)water)


2. Ships application :2. Ships application :

• • new ships of new ships of ≥ 400 gross tons≥ 400 gross tons

• • new ships < 400 gross tons new ships < 400 gross tons

certified to carry over 15 personscertified to carry over 15 persons

(new ships: building contract or keel laid on/after (new ships: building contract or keel laid on/after

27 September 2003 or delivered on/after 27 September 2006)27 September 2003 or delivered on/after 27 September 2006)

• • existing ships of existing ships of ≥ 400 gross tons≥ 400 gross tons

• • existing ships < 400 gross tons existing ships < 400 gross tons

certified to carry over 15 personscertified to carry over 15 persons

(on or after 27 September 2008)(on or after 27 September 2008)


3. Equipment requirements :3. Equipment requirements :

• • discharge pipeline fitted with the standard discharge connectiondischarge pipeline fitted with the standard discharge connection * *

andand

• • approved sewage treatment plantapproved sewage treatment plant

oror

• • comminuter/disinfection system with temporary means of storagecomminuter/disinfection system with temporary means of storage

oror

• • holding tankholding tank

* * applies to all new ships contracted for construction on or after January 1, 2007applies to all new ships contracted for construction on or after January 1, 2007


• • An approved sewage treatment plantAn approved sewage treatment plant shall be of a type approved by shall be of a type approved by the Administration, following the IMO standards and test methodsthe Administration, following the IMO standards and test methods * * ((its tests results are noted on the ISPPC and the effluent does not produce visible floating its tests results are noted on the ISPPC and the effluent does not produce visible floating solids nor cause discoloration of the surrounding watersolids nor cause discoloration of the surrounding water))

• • A sewage comminuting and disinfecting systemA sewage comminuting and disinfecting system approved by the Administration approved by the Administration shall be fitted with temporary storage of sewage when the ship is less than 3 shall be fitted with temporary storage of sewage when the ship is less than 3 nautical miles from the nearest landnautical miles from the nearest land

• • A sewage holding tankA sewage holding tank shall: shall:- have appropriate capacity for the retention of all sewage, - have appropriate capacity for the retention of all sewage, - be correctly constructed with a means to indicate visually the amount of its - be correctly constructed with a means to indicate visually the amount of its

contents, and contents, and - be equipped with the ship’s discharge line to port / terminal reception facilities - be equipped with the ship’s discharge line to port / terminal reception facilities

fitted with the standard discharge connectionfitted with the standard discharge connection

** • • Sewage treatment plant should be approved in accordance with IMO Resolution Sewage treatment plant should be approved in accordance with IMO Resolution MEPC 2(VI) – December 1976 StandardMEPC 2(VI) – December 1976 Standard • • IMO Resolution 159(55) Adopted October 2006 is applicable for equipment IMO Resolution 159(55) Adopted October 2006 is applicable for equipment installed on board on or after 1 January 2010.installed on board on or after 1 January 2010.


4. Sewage Treatment System Capacity4. Sewage Treatment System Capacity - no Marpol regulations and guidelines for handling- no Marpol regulations and guidelines for handling capacity of any plant or holding tankcapacity of any plant or holding tank - the capacity depends on: - the capacity depends on: •• type of flushing system, type of flushing system, • • the number of people onboard, the number of people onboard, • • ship’s type, ship’s type, • • trading pattern, etc).trading pattern, etc).

Note: Note: Different administrations have suggested different Different administrations have suggested different quantities of sewage and grey water effluent.quantities of sewage and grey water effluent.


5. Control of discharge sewage5. Control of discharge sewage ((based on the type of equipment based on the type of equipment on on the the shipship))

The discharge of sewage into the sea The discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibitedis prohibited, except when:, except when:

- the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an - the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an

approved system at a distance of more than 3 nm from the nearest land; or approved system at a distance of more than 3 nm from the nearest land; or

- the ship is discharging sewage which is not comminuted and disinfected at a the ship is discharging sewage which is not comminuted and disinfected at a distance of more than 12 nm from the nearest land, provided that in any case, distance of more than 12 nm from the nearest land, provided that in any case, the sewage stored in holding tanks or sewage originating from spaces the sewage stored in holding tanks or sewage originating from spaces containing living animalscontaining living animals * * , shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a , shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate when ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots; ormoderate rate when ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots; or

- the ship is discharging sewage using an approved sewage treatment plant, the ship is discharging sewage using an approved sewage treatment plant,

Click here for Resolution MEPC.159(55)Click here for Resolution MEPC.159(55) ““Revised Revised Guidelines on implementation of effluent Guidelines on implementation of effluent

standards and performance standards and performance tests for sewage treatment plants” tests for sewage treatment plants” which which will apply to plants installed will apply to plants installed

onboard on or afteronboard on or after 1 January 1 January 2010 and will replace the resolution MEPC. 2(VI)2010 and will replace the resolution MEPC. 2(VI) . .


5. Control of discharge sewage 5. Control of discharge sewage (based on discharge distance) (based on discharge distance)

• • while operating within 3 nmwhile operating within 3 nm from the nearest land discharge from the nearest land discharge prohibited unless properly treated in prohibited unless properly treated in approved sewage treatment plantapproved sewage treatment plant

• • discharge within 3 – 12 nmdischarge within 3 – 12 nm from nearest land must either : from nearest land must either : meet effluent requirements within 3 nm from nearest land ormeet effluent requirements within 3 nm from nearest land or the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an using an approved comminuter/disinfection systemapproved comminuter/disinfection system

• • discharge at a distance of more than 12 nmdischarge at a distance of more than 12 nm from nearest land must from nearest land must either: meet effluent requirements within 3 nm or within 3 – 12 nm from either: meet effluent requirements within 3 nm or within 3 – 12 nm from the nearest land or the sewage that has been stored in the nearest land or the sewage that has been stored in holding tanksholding tanks shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate when the ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots;when the ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots;

Click here for: ‘’RECOMMENDATION ON STANDARDS FOR THE RATE OF DISCHARGEOF UNTREATED SEWAGE FROM SHIPS”


6. Exceptions6. Exceptions

The discharge of sewage into the sea The discharge of sewage into the sea is allowedis allowed when: when:

- securing the safety of life or the ship; or- securing the safety of life or the ship; or

- the discharge of sewage is as result from damage- the discharge of sewage is as result from damage

to a ship or its equipment if all reasonable precautions have to a ship or its equipment if all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the occurrence been taken before and after the occurrence

of the damage, for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the of the damage, for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the dischargedischarge

Note:Note: some countries have sewage ‘no discharge areas’ regardless of some countries have sewage ‘no discharge areas’ regardless of

how well it is treatedhow well it is treated


7. Surveys and Certification7. Surveys and Certification

An An International Sewage Pollution Prevention CertificateInternational Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate (ISPPC) shall be issued: (ISPPC) shall be issued:

•• after an initial or renewal surveyafter an initial or renewal survey •• by the Administration or organization duly authorized by it by the Administration or organization duly authorized by it

•• for a period not exceeding five years.for a period not exceeding five years. Note: Note: Certificate shall cease if the relevant surveys are not completed, Certificate shall cease if the relevant surveys are not completed, if the certificate is not endorsed, upon transfer of the ship to the flag if the certificate is not endorsed, upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another State.of another State. Click here to open ISPPC exampleClick here to open ISPPC example


8. Reception facilities8. Reception facilities

• • Each Party to the Convention Each Party to the Convention has to equip ports has to equip ports and terminals with facilities for the reception of sewageand terminals with facilities for the reception of sewage

•• Each Party shall notify the IMOEach Party shall notify the IMO of all cases where the facilities provided of all cases where the facilities provided under this regulation are inadequateunder this regulation are inadequate

Remarks:Remarks:Some ports (particularly members of the Paris MOU) now require advance warning Some ports (particularly members of the Paris MOU) now require advance warning of waste to be disposed of. The waste includes oil, chemicals, ballast, sewage of waste to be disposed of. The waste includes oil, chemicals, ballast, sewage and garbage. and garbage. The method of reporting this is to send Company form SAF13 to the agents prior to The method of reporting this is to send Company form SAF13 to the agents prior to arrival. Note that this form may be required even if no waste is to be landed. The local arrival. Note that this form may be required even if no waste is to be landed. The local agent is to be asked to confirm accordingly.agent is to be asked to confirm accordingly. Click here for Waste Delivery Receipt formClick here for Waste Delivery Receipt form


9. Port State Control on operational requirements9. Port State Control on operational requirements**

1. when in port a ship can be inspected by authorized PSC officers1. when in port a ship can be inspected by authorized PSC officers

2. if the master or crew are not familiar with essential shipboard2. if the master or crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedures preventing pollution by sewage, all should be done toprocedures preventing pollution by sewage, all should be done to ensure that the situation has been brought to order.ensure that the situation has been brought to order.

3. if ships equipment is broken or missing or ship has suffered damages3. if ships equipment is broken or missing or ship has suffered damages en route, Port Authorities must be informed accordingly and if remediesen route, Port Authorities must be informed accordingly and if remedies were agreed with the flag state, the ship is not to be detained.were agreed with the flag state, the ship is not to be detained.

** Refer to the Procedures for port State control resolutionRefer to the Procedures for port State control resolution A.787(19) as amended byA.787(19) as amended by resolution A.882(21);resolution A.882(21);

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MARPOL Annex IV: Sewage Pollution Prevention