MAR ENV:Protection of the Marine Environment

3/E Heidi Rose G. MendozaInstructor,

College of Maritime Education

Declaration:
This learning module is an exclusive property of Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc., as an essential part of the
REIMAGINED Learning Program for the Academic Year 2020-2021, and shall only be used by and for
DYCIans. No part of this learning module shall be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, and/or sold, without the
consent of DYCI.
 Week No. 15
MARPOL ANNEX V

This module is intended to have you learners of maritime department to understand

MARPOL Annex V regulations that helps in marine pollution prevention.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

enumerate the regulations under MARPOL Annex V;
explain each regulations and how it works to prevent pollution.

Marpol Annex 5 states for the regulation and prevention of marine pollution due to ships
garbage. It came into force on 31st December 1988 with new improved regulation for
disposing garbage at sea. The original Marpol annex 5 ( 1988 version ) only prohibits
disposal of plastics at sea with regulation for other garbage in coastal waters.

This annexe deals with the garbage produced onboard ships and ways to prevent pollution
from the same, having 3 Chapters with 14 Regulations.

Chapter 1 gives general details on MARPOL ANNEX II and consists of 10 regulations

providing the “Definition” of different terminologies which are used in the chapter under
Regulation 1 and explains the “Application” of this chapter in different types of ship
Regulation 2.

Regulation 3 lists down the details of the general prohibition on the discharge of garbage at
sea followed by Regulation 4 for the discharge of garbage outside special areas.

Regulation 5 specifies the special requirements for the discharge of garbage from fixed and
floating platforms. The requirement for discharge of garbage in the special area is given
under Regulation 6.

Regulation 7 & 8 describes the receptions facilities exception and requirements including
those who are inside the special areas.
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Chapter 2 deals with the Verification of compliance with the provision of this convention
under Regulation 11 and 12

Chapter 3 list down the important requirement on international code for ships operating in
Polar waters under Regulation 13 and 14. Regulation 13 lists down the definition for the
purpose of this annex followed by Regulation 14 for application and requirement for the
ships sailing in polar waters.

The revised Marpol annex 5 that came into force on January 1 2013 prohibits disposal of
all garbage at sea with exception of food and other environment friendly waste under
specific regulations. The law also allow for disposing waste ( garbage ) at sea under
emergency condition to maintain stability and safety of life. These law are further revised
under 2018 amendment as discussed below.

What can be Considered as Garbage?

The Marpol annex 5 states the definition of garbage to be all domestic, victual and
operational waste including food; that is generated on board ship during its normal
operation. In simple English, garbage can be anything which is plastic, packing material,
paper products, rags, metal, glass, crockery, cargo residue, food waste, incinerator ash and
many others; which does not came under other Marpol annexes such as sewage, oil and
noxious substance in liquid form.

According to the amended annex 5 ( Regulation 3 ) of 2013; All garbage on board

ship have to be grouped into following categories:

Plastics:- Any garbage that contains, consist or include plastic in any form such as
synthetic ropes, net, poly-bags, packing material etc came under this category.
Waste food product:- Any fresh or spoiled food can be discharged at sea; following
condition for discharge under Marpol annex 5.
Cooking Oil:- All cooking oil of any form ( natural or animal ); which is used for cooking
are prohibited to discharge at sea.
Domestic Waste:- Anything that you produce during stay in accommodation came under
domestic waste such as canes, bottles, paper, board, food packets etc.
Incinerator waste:- All ash generated by the incinerator other than burning plastic came
into this category.
Fishing Gear:- Any device or equipment which are / can be used for the purpose of
capturing fish came under this category.

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 Animal waste:- Dead body either in the form of meat, body or animal parts came under
this category. Animal waste are also referred to this category which can be discharged at
sea under specific circumstances.
Operation & Cargo Waste:- Operation wastes are solid waste such as cleaning agent,
additives and washing water collected during normal operation of the ship. While cargo
wastes are the residual cargo left after cargo operation. They can be discharged at sea
provided they follow certain requirements.
Mixed Waste:- When different grades or category of garbage is mixed they are called
mixed waste. There wastes are not allowed to discharge under normal condition but
allowed with more stringent condition / requirement applied.

Marpol Annex 5 Regulation 3 Guidelines for Outside Special Area

Disposal of all allowed categories must be kept as low as possible at site as far as possible
from the nearest land; and must be prohibited if this distance is less than:-
25 Nautical miles for packing material, dunnage and other such garbage.
12 Nautical mile for garbage containing food waste, paper product, bottles, glass, crockery,
metal etc.
All other garbage as stated in the sub regulation b-2 are permitted only if passed through a
grinder and discharge; minimum 3 nautical mile from nearest land.
Cleaning agent and additives used for ship operation are allowed to discharge at any
condition; but advised to do so as far as possible from the nearest land or floating platforms
engaged in offshore industries.

Special Areas
Special Areas established under the Marpol annex 5 are:-
Red Sea
Black Sea
The Baltic Area
Mediterranean Sea
Gulf Areas
North Sea
The Wider Caribbean ( Reason including Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico ).
Antarctic Region

Special Mandatory mode of pollution prevention and control by garbage is adopted under

annex 5; to safeguard the ecological and oceanographic structure of these regions. These
areas are recognized or marked out on the basis of maritime traffic, water exchange, ice
condition and number of endangered species.
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 Garbage Record Book

Marpol Annex 5 states that all ships with more than 15 crew with more than 100 gross ton
along with fixed / floating sea platforms are required to have a garbage management plan.
The plan must be made following the guidelines of IMO and should contain written
procedures; for collection, storage, reduction, processing and disposal of garbage on board
at ship or sea platforms.

The plan must be developed and available in the working language of the crew with a
person responsible for maintaining it. The plan also call for maintaining a garbage record
book for ships above 400 gross tonnage with minimum of 15 crew. It is required to make
entry in this book after each garbage discharge; into sea, to the reception facility ashore,
incinerated and during accidental discharge or emergency.

Each Garbage Record Book must include the name of the ship, IMO, date, time, ship
position, estimated discharge or incinerated. Each complete page should be then get signed
by the master and kept on board ship for at least next 2-3 years for inspection.

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 How to fill in the New Garbage Record Book?

Under Latest 2018 amendment of Marpol annex 5; the garbage record book is separated
into two; ( one regular and other specially for cargo residue ). The regular record book is
also revised to add a new category i.e E-Waste foe all electronic waste including
electronic component, equipment, parts and accessories. All other detail including the
procedure of filling garbage recored book is remained similar under revised MEPC 277
(70) Resolution.

For Example; suppose we have discharged some garbage to the reception facility
ashore. Now to fill the record book we will start from date and time for
discharge in the left most column. Name of ship / port at second followed by
discharge category at third and amount of discharge at the forth column.

At the last designated officer have to sign at the right most column of the book. In some
condition such as incinerated or discharge at sea; you also have to fill the fifth, sixth and
seventh column of the garbage record book. For part two of the amended garbage record
book you also need to enter the discharge start and end position of ship.

Marpol Annex 5 – 2018 Amendments

The revised Marpol Annex 5 under regulation MEPC 70 came into effect on
march 1,2018. The main change included addition of additional category ( E-
Waste ) in the garbage record book; with the added criteria to determine and
judge cargo residue based on the extent of harm they do to the marine
environment.

The new law put different restriction on different types of cargo residue; for
example residue containing less harmful substance for the environment have
lesser restriction on discharge than of other harmful residues. The whole
structure of garbage record book is revised to make separate parts for cargo
residue of bulk / cargo ship. And another set for the all other garbage
applicable for whole merchant fleet ( Meaning all kinds of ships ).

Apart from these major changes only one more gradual change is made in the amended
version other than simple revisions such as definition change ( Changed but almost same )
and renumbering paragraph of the annex. That one more important change is the revision
of categories under the garbage record book to add one major and two minor categories in
the list.
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 The new categories of Garbage Record Book Include:
1. Plastic
2. Domestic Waste
3. Incinerator
4. Waste Food Products
5. Cooking Oil
6. Animal Carcasses or waste
7. Operational Waste
8. Fishing instruments
9. E-Waste ( NEW )
10. Cargo residue non harmful to marine environment ( NEW )
11. Cargo residue harmful to marine environment ( NEW )
Important: Category one ( 1 ) to nine ( 9 ) of garbage record book came under part one ( 1 )
of the book applicable to all ships. While category Ten ( 10 ) and eleven ( 11 ) came
under part two ( 2 ) of the amended garbage record book applicable only to ships
carrying dry cargo.

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 Name: _____________________________________________ Rating: ________________
Year and Section:_____________ Professor / Instructor: __________________________
Due of Submission: _____________________________

Week No. 15
MARPOL ANNEX V

Enumerate all the regulations under MARPOL Annex IV.

Explain how sewage is being treated onboard before discharging overboard using
equipments required by this annex.

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MARPOL (The international convention for prevention of marine pollution for ships): The
ultimate guide. (2019, November 4). Marine Insight.

MARPOL ANNEX 4 explained: How to prevent pollution from sewage at sea. (2019,
October 18). Marine Insight.