Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships
Sewage means:
.1 drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals;
.2 drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay, etc.) via wash
basins, wash tubs and scuppers located in such premises;
.3 drainage from spaces containing living animals; or
.4 other waste waters when mixed with the drainages defined above.
Holding tank means a tank used for the collection and storage of sewage.
Regulations for the prevention of pollution by sewage are contained in
MARPOL Annex IV.
Sewage – the problem
The discharge of raw sewage into the sea can create a health hazard.
Sewage can also lead to oxygen depletion and can be an obvious visual
pollution in coastal areas - a major problem for countries with tourist
industries.
The main sources of human-produced sewage are land-based - such as
municipal sewers or treatment plants. However, the discharge of sewage
into the sea from ships also contributes to marine pollution.
Annex IV of MARPOL
Annex IV contains a set of regulations regarding the discharge of sewage
into the sea from ships, including regulations regarding the ships'
equipment and systems for the control of sewage discharge, the provision
of port reception facilities for sewage, and requirements for survey and
certification.
It is generally considered that on the high seas, the oceans are capable of
assimilating and dealing with raw sewage through natural bacterial action.
Therefore, the regulations in Annex IV of MARPOL prohibit the discharge of
sewage into the sea within a specified distance from the nearest land,
unless otherwise provided.
Governments are required to ensure the provision of adequate reception
facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of sewage, without causing
delay to ships.
The Annex entered into force on 27 September 2003. A revised Annex IV
was adopted on 1 April 2004 and entered into force on 1 August 2005.
The revised Annex applies to ships, engaged in international voyages, of
400 gross tonnage and above or which are certified to carry more than 15
persons. The Annex requires ships to be equipped with either an approved
sewage treatment plant or an approved sewage comminuting and
disinfecting system or a sewage holding tank.
The discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibited, except when the ship
has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant or when the ship is
discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an approved system
at a distance of more than three nautical miles from the nearest land.
Sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected may be discharged at a
distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land when the
ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots, and the rate of
discharge of untreated sewage shall be approved by the Administration
(see resolution MEPC.157(55))
The MEPC also adopted the Recommendation on standards for the rate of
discharge of untreated sewage from ships (resolution MEPC.157(55)).
Special Areas
In July 2011, MEPC 62 adopted, by resolution MEPC.200(62), the most
recent amendment to MARPOL Annex IV, which entered into force on 1
January 2013. The amendment introduced, inter alia, a definition for Special
Area as well as relevant requirements for the discharge of sewage from
passenger ships in Special Areas and for port reception facilities.
The discharge of sewage from passenger ships within a Special Area is
generally be prohibited under the new regulations, except when the ship
has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant which has been
certified by the Administration (see resolution MEPC.227(64)). The sewage
treatment plant installed on a passenger ship intending to discharge
sewage effluent in Special Areas should additionally meet the nitrogen and
phosphorus removal standard when tested for its Certificate of Type
Approval by the Administration (resolution MEPC.227(64), section 4.2).
Currently, the Baltic Sea area is the only Special Area under Annex IV. In
accordance with resolution MEPC.275(69), the discharge requirements for
Special Areas in regulation 11.3 of MARPOL Annex IV for the Baltic Sea
Special Area shall take effect:
.1 on 1 June 2019, for new passenger ships[1];
.2 on 1 June 2021, for existing passenger ships[1] other than those
specified in .3; and
.3 on 1 June 2023, for existing passenger ships en route directly to or
from a port located outside the special area and to or from a port located
east of longitude 28˚10' E within the special area that do not make any
other port calls within the special area.
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1 As defined in regulation 1.10 of MARPOL Annex IV
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Regulation 11 - Discharge of sewage
Subject to the provisions of regulation 3 of this Annex, the discharge of sewage
into the sea is prohibited, except when:
.1 the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using a
system approved by the Administration in accordance with
regulation 9.1.2 of this Annex at a distance of more than 3 nautical
miles from the nearest land, or sewage which is not comminuted or
disinfected at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the
nearest land, provided that, in any case, the sewage that has been
stored in holding tanks shall not be discharged instantaneously but
at a moderate rate when the ship is en route and proceeding at not
less than 4 knots; the rate of discharge shall be approved by the
Administration based upon standards developed by the
Organization; OR
.2 the ship has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant
which has been certified by the Administration to meet the
operational requirements referred to in regulation 9.1.1 of this
Annex, and
.2.1 the test results of the plant are laid down in the ship's International
Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate; and
.2.2 additionally, the effluent shall not produce visible floating solids
nor cause discoloration of the surrounding water.
2 The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to ships operating in the waters
under the jurisdiction of a State and visiting ships from other States while they
are in these waters and are discharging sewage in accordance with such less
stringent requirements as may be imposed by such State.
3 When the sewage is mixed with wastes or waste water covered by other
Annexes of MARPOL 73/78, the requirements of those Annexes shall be
complied with in addition to the requirements of this Annex.
Regulation 9 - Sewage systems
1 Every ship which, in accordance with regulation 2, is required to comply with
the provisions of this Annex shall be equipped with one of the following
sewage systems:
.1 a sewage treatment plant which shall be of a type approved by the
Administration, taking into account the standards and test methods
developed by the Organization,* or
.2 a sewage comminuting and disinfecting system approved by the
Administration. Such system shall be fitted with facilities to the
satisfaction of the Administration, for the temporary storage of sewage
when the ship is less than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land, or
.3 a holding tank of the capacity to the satisfaction of the Administration for
the retention of all sewage, having regard to the operation of the ship,
the number of persons on board and other relevant factors. The holding
tank shall be constructed to the satisfaction of the Administration and
shall have a means to indicate visually the amount of its contents.
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