Guidelines for the Implementation of MARPOL Annex V, (IC656E) 2017 Edition

MARPOL Annex V seeks to eliminate and reduce the amount of garbage being discharged into the sea from ships. Unless expressly provided otherwise, Annex V applies to all ships, which means all ships of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment, from merchant ships to fixed or floating platforms to non-commercial ships like pleasure crafts and yachts.

Under MARPOL Annex V, garbage includes all kinds of food, domestic and operational waste, all plastics, cargo residues, incinerator ashes, cooking oil, fishing gear and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and liable to be disposed of continuously or periodically.

The main objectives of these Guidelines are to assist:

.1 Governments in developing and enacting domestic laws which implement MARPOL Annex V;

.2 shipowners, ship operators, ships’ crews, cargo owners and equipment manufacturers in complying with requirements set forth in MARPOL Annex V and relevant domestic laws; and

.3 port and terminal operators in assessing the need for, and providing, adequate reception facilities for garbage generated on all types of ships. In the interest of uniformity, governments are requested to refer to these Guidelines and related guidance developed by the Organization when developing and enforcing appropriate national regulations.

As a specialised agency of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.