This regulation governs the discharge of garbage from ships.

The restrictions on the disposal of garbage from ships does not apply if it is necessary
for the purpose of securing the safety of the ship and those on board or saving life at
sea; or the escape of garbage resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment
provided all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the
occurrence of the damage, for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the escape.
Discharge of Garbage outside Special Areas
The disposal of plastics, synthetic ropes, fishing nets, and plastic bags is prohibited
The following may be discharged;
 Beyond 25 miles from land dunnage linings and packing material which
will float
 Beyond 12 miles from land - paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles and food
waste
 Beyond 3 miles from land paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery
and food waste if comminuted or ground to less than 25mm screen
Discharge of Garbage within Special Areas
Food wastes may be discharged into the sea within any special area, except the
Wider Caribbean Region and the Antarctic Area, to which special rules apply,
provided that the discharge is as far as practicable from land and more than 12 miles
from the nearest land. Placards must be displayed to notify all persons of the
garbage discharge requirements.

Garbage Management Plan

The owner and master of any ship of 400 tons gross or more or carrying 15 or more
persons must ensure that the ship has a garbage management plan that provides
written procedures for collecting garbage; storing garbage; processing garbage;
disposing of garbage; the use of garbage related equipment on board and should
designate the person in charge of carrying out the plan.

©2014 MIT – Grad Cert – T/M dh

Garbage Record Book
Every ship of 400 gross tonnage and above and every ship certified to carry 15
persons or more engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under jurisdiction
of other parties to the Convention and every fixed and floating platform engaged in
exploration and exploitation of the sea bed shall be provided with a Garbage Record
Book. The Garbage Record Book, whether as part of the ship’s official log book or
otherwise, shall be in the form specified in the appendix to this annex.
The Administration may waive the requirement for a Garbage Record Book for ships
engaged on voyages of 1 hour or less in duration which is certified to carry 15
persons or more or fixed or floating platforms while engaged in the exploration or
exploitation of the sea bed.
The competent authority of a government of a Party to the convention may inspect
the Garbage Record Book on board any ship to which this regulation applies while
the ship is in its ports or offshore terminals and may make a copy of any entry in that
book and may require the master of the ship to certify that the copy is a true copy of
such entry.

Reception Facilities The Government of each Party to the Convention undertakes to

ensure the provisions of facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage.
The Government of each Party shall notify the Organization for transmission to the
parties concerned of all cases where the facilities are alleged to be inadequate.
Port State Control A ship when in a port of another Party is subject to inspection by
officers duly authorized by such party concerning operational requirements under
this annex, where there are clear grounds for believing that the master or crew are
not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to the prevention of
pollution by garbage. In such circumstances, the Party will take such steps as will
ensure the ship shall not sail until the situation has been brought to order.

©2014 MIT – Grad Cert – T/M dh