IMO rules against pollution by sewage take effect
Regulations promulgated by the International Maritime Organization for the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships entered into force Saturday.
The rules, adopted nearly 30 years ago, are contained in Annex IV of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78).
Annex IV contains a set of regulations regarding discharge of sewage into the sea, ships’ equipment, and systems for the control of sewage discharge. There are also provisions regarding facilities at ports, terminals for the reception of sewage, and requirements for survey and certification. The Annex includes a model “international sewage pollution prevention certificate,” to be issued by shipping administrations.
In the 1990s, concerns were raised at the IMO that Annex IV would not receive sufficient ratifications to achieve entry into force. In 2000, an IMO committee approved a revised text for Annex IV, making it less restrictive.
The revised Annex IV is scheduled to be adopted in March by the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee. Meantime, the IMO has advised parties ratifying MARPOL 73/78 to apply the terms of the revised Annex IV instead of its original version in MARPOL 73/78.
The revised Annex IV applies to new and existing ships that are 400 tons gross tonnage and above on international voyages, or ships that are certified to carry more than 15 persons. Existing vessels must comply with the new rules within five years.
Every ship to which Annex IV applies must be equipped with a sewage treatment plant, a sewage comminuting and disinfecting system, or a sewage holding tank. Using an approved waste system, treated sewage may not be discharged within three nautical miles of shoreline. Untreated sewage may not be discharged within 12 nautical miles of shoreline.
The five MARPOL 73/78 Annexes cover pollution by oil (I), chemicals (II), harmful substances in packaged form (III), sewage (IV) and garbage (V).
Annexes III, IV and V are optional.