Waste - Offshore Incineration

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 1973, as amended - Annex VI

Regulation 16 of Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention requires incinerators installed on or after 1st January 2000 to meet type approval and operating limits in order to reduce atmospheric emissions from offshore incineration.

• Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic 1992 (OSPAR Convention)
• Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1996

Annex II of the OSPAR Convention and the London Dumping Protocol prohibit incineration at sea and prohibits dumping except dredged material, inert material of natural origin, sewage sludge, fish wastes or vessels and aircraft. The dumping of low and intermediate level radioactive substances including wastes is prohibited. Permits are required from the relevant competent authorities before dumping. These requirements do not apply to offshore installations.

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

The Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) Order exempts from the requirements of FEPA the incineration on a vessel or marine structure of garbage originating from that vessel or marine structure, but excluding any bulky or industrial waste.

The UK Government is encouraging operators to ensure that incinerators installed after January 2000 are in compliance with MARPOL Annex VI, although this Annex is not yet fully implemented in the UK (see Pending Legislation). A Type Approval Certificate will be issued to confirm compliance and should be retained on board for inspection.

Once Annex VI comes into force the MCA will be responsible for inspecting all ships and offshore installations against these requirements.

A Compliance Certificate is required for shipboard incinerators with capacities up to 1,500 kW per unit intended to incinerate garbage and other shipboard wastes generated during normal service. The specification covers design, manufacture, performance, operation and testing and provides for emission standards and fire protection.

Regulation 16 of Annex VI prohibits the incineration of

• MARPOL 73/78 Annex I, II and III cargo residues, including related contaminated packaging;
• PCBs;
• Garbage containing more than traces of heavy metals;
• Refined petroleum products containing halogen compounds; and
• PVCs (except in approved incinerators).

The incineration of sewage sludge and sludge oil generated during normal shipboard operations is permitted outside harbour areas.

The combustion flue gas outlet temperature must be monitored at all times.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

None at Present