MARPOL Annex V

Changes to Annex V of the MARPOL Convention that came into effect 1 January 2013, mean that ship owners will no longer be allowed to discharge dry residues or wash water containing residues that are classified as “ harmful to the marine environment” into the sea.

What does that mean for shipping operators?

Under the new legislation these residues and wash waters will have to be discharged at adequate port reception facilities. If no adequate port reception facilities are available at the port of unloading or at the next port of loading, the shipmaster can refuse shipment of such cargo.
Specific criteria incorporating both environmental and human health toxicity endpoints have been agreed upon to identify substances harmful to the marine environment.
Currently the assessment of cargoes against the environmental criteria i.e. EHS/ Marine Pollutant is mandatory as of the 1st January 2013.
This assessment is based on the UN Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling (GHS) 4th revised edition. A transitional period has been established from January 2013 to December 2014, for shippers to carry out the human health tests and for the data to be available. Until then the appropriate box i.e. “Not available” can be ticked on the Shipper’s Declaration Form.

The following criteria which are based on the UN GHS, fourth revised edition (2011) have been agreed upon to identify substances harmful to the marine environment (SHME):

  • Acute Aquatic Toxicity Category 1; or
  • Chronic Aquatic Toxicity Category 1 or 2; or
  • Carcinogenicity 1A/1B AND high bioaccumulation AND Not Rapidly degradable; and/or
  • Mutagenicity 1A/1B AND high bioaccumulation AND Not Rapidly degradable; and/or
  • Reproductive toxicity 1A/1B AND high bioaccumulation AND Not Rapidly degradable; and/or
  • Single Target Organ Toxicity-Repeated Exposure (STOT-RE) Category 1 AND high bioaccumulation AND Not Rapidly degradable

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