Marpol Annex V – Cargo Residues

On 1 January 2013, the revised MARPOL Annex V entered into force. The responsibility for implementation of the annex has now extended beyond the shipowner and operator to include ports, terminals, shippers, charterers and manufacturers of cleaning agents.

The club is receiving an increasing  number of enquiries from members regarding the treatment of dry bulk cargo residues under the provisions of the annex. The requirements of the revised MARPOL Annex V are summarised below:-

• Shippers must declare if a bulk cargo is or is not harmful to the marine environment  in the declaration required by the IMSBC section 4.2 ‘Provision of Information’. 
• Manufacturers of cleaning agents must declare if their product is harmful to the marine environment or provide evidence for ships’ records that it is not.
• The definition of ‘cargo residues’ means the remnants of any cargo which remain on deck or in the holds after cargo operations. This does not include dust remaining on deck after sweeping or dust on the external surfaces of the ship.
• Hold bilges cannot be pumped overboard when carrying cargo or using cleaning agents that are harmful to the environment. Residues of cargo or cleaning agents classified as harmful to the marine environment can only be discharged into a port reception facility.
• Discharge of cargo restudies and cleaning agents that are not harmful to the marine environment is only permitted when not in a special area and at least 12 nautical miles from the nearest shore line.
• Discharge of non-harmful to the marine environment cargo residues and cleaning agents are permitted in special areas only, provided that the following conditions apply:-
• Both the port of departure and the next port of destination (load port) are within the special area
• The ship will not leave the special area
• No adequate reception facilities are available at either port
• The discharge is made as far as practical from the nearest land or ice shelf and not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or ice shelf.
• Discharge of cargo residues and/or cleaning agents that are classified as harmful to the marine environment is totally prohibited regardless of area and whether or not they are mixed with cargo hold wash water.

Further details and reporting formats can be found in the Intercargo Technical Brief “Revised Marpol Annex V & Dry Bulk Cargoes” at www.intercargo.org/reception-facilities.html

Category: Pollution