Sewage and Food Waste

• MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV
• The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations 2008

These Regulations implement the requirements of MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV in the UK (see Consent Requirements and Performance Standards)

Note: MARPOL 73/78 also defines a ship to include "floating craft and fixed or floating platforms" and these are required where appropriate to comply with the requirements similar to those set out for vessels. Thus for sewage the basic equipment and operational requirements set out for other vessels will apply to offshore installations.

• The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 to include the requirement of the master of a ship to notify the harbour authority where he intends to deliver sewage, which has been generated on board ship, to waste reception facilities in port.

• Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA)
• Deposits in the Sea Exemption Order 1985

The Deposits in the Sea (Exemption) Order 1985 provides a general exemption from FEPA for the overboard discharge of sewage and ground food waste from offshore installations. 

• Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic 1992 (OSPAR Convention)

• MGN 385 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations 2008
• MSN 1807 (M+F) The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations 2008
• MGN 387 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 (revised)

None required unless vessel is >400 GRT or <400 GRT and engaged in international voyages and then an International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate is needed.

However, allowance is made for ships which fall outside the scope of the 2008 Regulations to voluntarily opt into the provisions of the sewage requiremetns by requesting survey and certification.

Where a ship intends to deliver sewage to port waste reception facilities (as an alternative to treatment and discharge at sea), the harbour/port authority must be notified in advance (see Port Waste Reception).

For first certificate for UKCS, operator must request Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to conduct survey of sewage treatment systems; MCA then issue the certificate.

For renewal of certificate, operator must request Classification Societies to re-survey; Classification Societies then renew the certificate.

The first certificate will be issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA website).

Thereafter, certificate is renewed by the Classification Societies.

Sewage equipment is required only by vessels of >400 GRT or <400 GRT if certified to carry more than 15 persons if engaged in international voyages. The requirements for sewage equipment will therefore apply to mobile drilling units or other vessels (e.g. FPSO) on international voyage.

Sewage discharge (from applicable ships) is:

• Prohibited within 3 miles of land;
• If appropriate sewage treatment plant (see below) is on board, discharge may occur if > 3 miles from land;
• If disinfected/comminuted sewage has been kept in a holding tank, discharge should only be made while on route and proceeding at > 4 knots;
• If no treatment facilities are on board, sewage may only be discharged if > 12 miles from land.

All ships to which the sewage requirements apply must have at least one of the following on board:

• A sewage treatment plant which complies with the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 1999 as amended, or
• A sewage comminuting and disinfecting system which meets the standards for such systems set out in MSN 1807, and is fitted with facilities for temporary storage of sewage which meet the standards set out in that MSN; or
• A holding tank for the retention of sewage which meets the construction standards set out in MSN 1807, and has sufficient capacity, and has a visual indicator of the amount of its contents.

See MGN 385 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations 2008 for further information.

Not applicable.

No reporting required.

Not applicable

None at present