MARPOL Annex V

MARPOL Annex V regulates the disposal of garbage from ships, defining which waste types may be discharged at sea and under what conditions. Following the 2013 amendments, the discharge of most garbage into the sea is prohibited; plastics may never be discharged anywhere. Food wastes, cargo residues not harmful to the marine environment, and cleaning agents may be discharged in limited circumstances based on distance from the nearest land and the ship's position relative to special areas. For all crew, Annex V compliance is a daily responsibility. Ships must have a garbage management plan, a garbage record book in which all disposals and discharges are logged, and placards posted in crew and passenger accommodation explaining the discharge requirements in plain language. The garbage management plan must be implemented by the master, and all crew must be familiar with it. Port state control inspectors check the garbage record book for consistency and completeness. Failure to record disposals, evidence of plastics discharge, or the absence of a garbage management plan are common deficiencies. Special areas under Annex V — including the Wider Caribbean Region, the Antarctic Area, and the Baltic Sea — have stricter requirements, with food waste discharge often prohibited or restricted. Vessels engaged in voyages through multiple special areas must plan their garbage management accordingly.