Kiera Jefferson
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL, is the main international convention for preventing marine pollution caused by ships. It was adopted in 1973 and amended in 1978, with six annexes that are regularly updated in response to technical advancements and emerging issues related to pollution and climate change. These annexes address various types of ship-generated pollution, including sewage, oil discharge, air pollution, and garbage disposal, with the most recent updates focusing on air pollution and energy efficiency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Adoption | 2 November 1973 |
| Date of Entry into Force | 2 October 1983 |
| Number of Annexes | 6 |
| Types of Pollution Covered | Sewage, Air Pollution, Oil Discharge, Garbage, Chemical Discharge, Ozone Depleting Substances |
| Types of Ships Covered | Ocean-going ships, Chemical tankers, Ships in polar waters, Oil tankers |
| Regulating Body | International Maritime Organization (IMO) |
| Enforcement Bodies | EPA, USCG, Port State Control |
| Notable Amendments | MARPOL Annex VI, Polar Code |
| Notable Features | Ban on plastic dumping, Sulphur oxide limits, Sewage discharge restrictions |
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What You'll Learn
Sewage pollution
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL, is the main international convention covering the prevention of marine pollution from ships, whether from operational or accidental causes. MARPOL was adopted on 2 November 1973, and has been updated by amendments through the years.
MARPOL includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimising pollution from ships, and currently has six technical Annexes. One of these, Annex IV, deals with sewage pollution.
Annex IV contains a set of regulations regarding the discharge of sewage into the sea from ships. Sewage discharge from ships is a health hazard and can cause oxygen depletion and visual pollution in coastal areas, impacting countries with tourism industries.
Under Annex IV, ships must 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 an approved sewage treatment plant in operation 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 that is not comminuted or disinfected must be discharged at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.
The most recent amendment to Annex IV, enforced in January 2013, designated the Baltic Sea area as the first special area for sewage discharge regulation. This regulation targets passenger ships, which are the major cause of sewage-related pollution at sea and in coastal waters. It bans the discharge of untreated sewage in the Baltic region.
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Air pollution
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL, addresses air pollution from ocean-going ships in Annex VI. This annex, which came into force in May 2005, establishes limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and requires the use of fuel with a lower sulphur content. This helps to protect human health and the environment by reducing ozone-producing pollution, which can cause smog and aggravate asthma.
MARPOL Annex VI also prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It establishes requirements for the reception of wastes from exhaust gas cleaning systems, incinerators, and fuel oil quality. The use of marine diesel engines on large ships generates significant emissions of NOx, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and sulphur oxides (SOx), which contribute to air pollution. These emissions have adverse effects on populations living near ports and coastlines, as well as those living further inland.
To enforce compliance with MARPOL Annex VI, the EPA and USCG entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2011. This agreement includes inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions for violations. Efforts to ensure compliance include oversight of marine fuelling facilities, on-board compliance inspections, and record reviews.
In 2015, the EPA released a penalty policy for violations of the sulphur in fuel standard and related provisions for ships. This policy aims to deter potential violators and ensure swift resolution of claims arising from non-compliance. The EPA is committed to enforcing marine emission standards to prevent dangerous air pollution and protect public health in American communities.
Additionally, in 2011, the IMO adopted mandatory technical and operational energy efficiency measures, which are expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from ships. These measures were included in Annex VI and came into force in 2013.
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Oil discharge
MARPOL, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, was adopted on November 2, 1973, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency that deals with maritime safety and security and the prevention of marine pollution from ships. The convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships, both accidental and from routine operations.
MARPOL deals with oil discharge in several ways. Chapter 4 of the convention outlines the requirements for cargo areas in an oil tanker ship, listing various regulations. Chapter 5 describes how to prevent pollution from an oil pollution incident, providing details of the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP). Chapter 6 lists the requirements for the reception facilities to which the ship will dispose of oily bilge/sludge, both outside and inside special areas. Chapter 8 deals with preventing pollution that may occur during cargo oil transfers between tankers at sea, known as ship-to-ship transfers (STS).
MARPOL has been successful in reducing operational pollution from oil tankers, such as that from routine tank cleaning operations. The convention's operational and construction regulations, which came into force in 1983, have contributed to a continuous decline in accidental oil pollution over the last 30 years. For example, new oil tankers are now required to be fitted with segregated ballast tanks, eliminating the need to carry ballast water in cargo oil tanks and reducing the amount of oil spilled in accidents.
Annex II of MARPOL, which deals with the control and prevention of pollution from noxious liquid substances, is also relevant to oil discharge. Chapter 7 of Annex II outlines the Shipboard Pollution Emergency Plan for noxious liquid substances, while Chapter 8 lists the requirements for reception facilities to which ships can dispose of residues and mixtures generated from such substances.
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Noxious liquid substances
MARPOL, or the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, deals with the prevention of marine pollution from ships. It was adopted on 2 November 1973 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency that deals with maritime safety, security, and the prevention of marine pollution from ships.
MARPOL has been updated by amendments through the years and currently includes six technical Annexes. One of these Annexes, Annex II, specifically deals with noxious liquid substances. This annex came into force on 6 April 1987 and contains discharge conditions for four categories of noxious substances, as well as requirements for the construction and equipment of ships carrying such substances.
The main principle of Annex II is to dilute cargo residues in seawater to prescribed limits depending on their pollution hazard and facilitate the distribution of discharges by utilizing the wake of the ship. Unlike oil, most chemicals or noxious liquids will mix with water and are not easily separated from it. To address this, Annex II sets out a pollution categorization system for noxious and liquid substances.
Category Z, for example, includes noxious liquid substances that, if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations, are deemed to present a minor hazard to either marine resources or human health. As such, less stringent restrictions are placed on the quality and quantity of the discharge into the marine environment.
To ensure compliance with MARPOL Annex II, Chapter 6 of the convention describes the role of government and authorized parties, such as port state control, in controlling measures to check, survey, and assess ships carrying cargo under this annex. Chapter 7 deals specifically with the prevention of pollution arising from incidents involving noxious liquid substances and includes details of the Shipboard Pollution Emergency Plan for such substances.
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Garbage disposal
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) deals with different types of ship-generated waste, including garbage. MARPOL Annex V outlines the regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships.
MARPOL Annex V defines garbage as all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes, operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues, incinerator ashes, cooking oil, fishing gear, e-waste, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship. Fresh fish and parts thereof generated as a result of fishing activities or aquaculture activities are not considered garbage.
The disposal of all garbage into the sea from ships is prohibited, except in limited circumstances. These circumstances include when the discharge of garbage is necessary to secure the safety of a ship and those on board, or when it is necessary for saving a life at sea. Additionally, the accidental loss of garbage resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment is permitted, provided that all reasonable precautions were taken before and after the incident.
To comply with MARPOL Annex V, ships are required to maintain a Garbage Record Book. This logbook must record all disposal and incineration operations, including the date, time, position of the ship, description of the garbage, and the estimated amount incinerated or discharged. The Garbage Record Book must be retained onboard for a period of two years after the last entry.
Ships must also display placards notifying passengers and crew of the disposal requirements outlined in MARPOL Annex V. These placards must be written in the working language of the ship's crew, as well as in English, French, or Spanish for ships travelling to other states' ports or offshore terminals.
By implementing these measures, MARPOL aims to prevent pollution by garbage from ships, which can be just as harmful to marine life as oil or chemicals.
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Frequently asked questions
MARPOL stands for the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. It was adopted on November 2, 1973, at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency.
MARPOL deals with various types of ship-generated pollution, including oil discharge, sewage, garbage, and air pollution.
MARPOL Annex VI addresses air pollution from ocean-going ships. It sets limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter emissions. It also prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances.
MARPOL Annex I provides regulations for the treatment of engine room bilge water and ballast and tank cleaning waste. It also introduces the concept of ""special sea areas" where the discharge of oil is completely outlawed. MARPOL Annex II further details the discharge criteria for eliminating pollution by noxious liquid substances carried in large quantities.
