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MARPOL Annex V — Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships — was adopted as part of the original MARPOL 73/78 framework and entered into force on 31 December 1988. The 2011 amendments (in force 1 January 2013) fundamentally reversed the regulatory approach: the old regime permitted discharge of most garbage unless specifically prohibited; the revised Annex V prohibits all discharges unless a specific exemption is stated. This shift placed the burden firmly on operators to justify any disposal at sea rather than to justify retention.
Annex V applies to all ships of all types, including fixed and floating platforms. Its requirements interact closely with onboard Waste Management Plans under ISM and with national legislation — most notably the US Oil Pollution Act and equivalent domestic statutes — that frequently impose stricter standards than MARPOL itself.
PROHIBITED to discharge anywhere — including all waters outside special areas. Plastics must be retained onboard and delivered to a port reception facility.
Discharge permitted ≥ 3 nm from nearest land if comminuted or ground to pass a 25 mm screen; ≥ 12 nm if unground. In special areas, comminuted food waste may be discharged ≥ 12 nm (with flag-state / flag approval variations).
Generally prohibited at sea outside special areas. In practice, held onboard and landed ashore. Outside special areas, discharge may be permitted ≥ 12 nm where vessel-specific Garbage Management Plan specifies — but most operators prohibit it entirely.
Prohibited at sea. Must be retained in suitable containers (often dedicated IBC or drum) and delivered to port reception facilities.
Generally prohibited due to heavy-metal contamination concerns. Ash from incinerating Category A or D waste is specifically prohibited. Ash from permitted materials may be discharged ≥ 12 nm but most operators prohibit all ash discharge.
Prohibited at sea. Includes cargo-associated materials such as dunnage, lining, and packing that will float. All to be retained and landed.
Discharge permitted ≥ 100 nm from nearest land, en route (not at anchor or in port), with weighting to ensure sinking. Not permitted in special areas.
Discharge permitted ≥ 12 nm from nearest land with hold-washing water, under certain conditions — not harmful to the marine environment (non-HME). In special areas, discharge only where adequate reception facilities are unavailable and all conditions of Reg 7 are met.
Subject to special restrictions; effectively prohibited at sea under normal conditions. Classified HME cargo residues must be landed at reception facilities.
In designated Special Areas, discharge restrictions are significantly stricter than the general regime. Only food wastes (comminuted, ≥ 12 nm in most areas) and, where adequate port reception facilities are unavailable, non-HME cargo residues may be discharged. Plastics and all other categories are prohibited entirely. The current MARPOL Annex V Special Areas are:
Vessels should identify special areas for each voyage in passage planning and ensure segregation is completed and log entries are up to date before entering any special area.
Garbage management is a consistently high-ranking deficiency category in Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU, and USCG annual reports. Typical findings include:
In US waters, additional penalties under OPA-90 apply for unlawful garbage discharge — see OPA-90.
Marine plastic pollution has become a prominent focus of international environmental diplomacy. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) targets a significant reduction in marine pollution by 2025. IMO's Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships (2018) commits member states to progressive strengthening of Annex V implementation, improved port reception facilities, and monitoring of micro-plastic discharge from scrubbers and grey water — an area where further regulation is expected in the 2025–2030 period. Environmental NGOs and charterers increasingly require enhanced garbage reporting as part of ESG due diligence.
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