MARPOL Annex V crew checklist published

In response to a number of enquiries from members about tougher regulations over discharges into the sea under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) recent amendments to the MARPOL Annex V, the UK P&I Club has produced a guidance note for crew. The amendments to MARPOL Annex V, ratified in July 2011, came into force earlier this year in January 2013.

The note, or pamphlet, has been produced in partnership with the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF), and is entitled: “How to Comply with MARPOL Annex V”. The guidance details the classification of ‘harmful to the marine environment’, or HME, and provides a supporting checklist poster for crew detailing what they can and cannot discharge into the sea, depending on the material’s composition and vessel location.

The crew checklist is, for our superyacht audience, the crux of the 13-page advisory note, and takes the form of a yes/no contingency path to a final answer as to the disposal of any particular piece of material. The first question the checklist asks is whether the vessel is more than three nautical miles from the nearest land or ice shelf; if the answer is no, the crewmember is told no garbage of any sort may be discharged overboard; if the answer is yes, the crewmember is lead to a further question, this time asking if the vessel is within a MARPOL-designated ‘Special Area’, from where the checklist splits into two sections. The checklist also contains a list of general discharge prohibited at sea, which includes synthetic ropes, plastics, paper, cooking oil and bottles.



With regulatory eyes closer on the superyacht industry it is important crewmembers take the time to understand not only what ‘garbage’ they are and are not allowed to discharge under the MARPOL Annex V amendments, but also the penalties resulting from ignoring these amendments, which include significant monetary fines.

The UK P&I Club’s pamphlet can be downloaded by clicking here.

Superyacht Management Meeting: Environment & MARPOL will be held on 25 June in Barcelona, running back-to-back with Port State Control & Security the following day. To register your attendance at either of these events please email Suzie at suzie@thesuperyachtgroup,com, click here to register online or call the Superyacht Events team for more information +44 (0)207 924 4004.

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