International Convention for The Prevention

of Pollution from Ships, 1973/78 (MARPOL)

Prof. Manuel Ventura

MSc in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture

Annex IV - Prevention of Pollution by Sewage

from Ships

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 Definitions

Sewage means:
1. drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals
2. drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay, etc.) via
wash basins, wash tubs and scuppers located in such premises
3. drainage from spaces containing living animals
4. other waste waters when mixed with the drainages defined
above.

Holding tank means a tank used for the collection and storage of
sewage.

From the nearest land - means from the baseline from which
the territorial sea of the territory in question is established
in accordance with international law

M.Ventura MARPOL 3

Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from

Ships
Application
• Ships engaged in international voyages:
– New ships of GT ≥ 400
– New ships GT < 400 which are certified to carry more than 15
persons

M.Ventura MARPOL 4

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 Sewage Systems

Every ship which shall be equipped with one of the following

sewage systems:
• A sewage treatment plant
• A sewage comminuting and disinfecting system fitted with
facilities for the temporary storage of sewage when the ship
is less than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land
• A holding tank of the capacity for the retention of all sewage,
having regard to the operation of the ship, the number of
persons on board and other relevant factors.

M.Ventura MARPOL 5

Chemical Sewage Treatment Plants (1)

• Consists of a big storage tank which

collects, treats and stores the sewage for
discharging it to the sea or to a shore
receiving facility.
• The sewage is first collected in a tank and
the liquid content is reduced. This can be
done by flushing water from wash basins
and bathroom drains directly into the sea.
• The liquid from any other sources is
treated chemically to get rid of the color
and smell and then it is reused as flushing
water in toilets. The chemicals that are
used assist in the process of breaking the
solid constituents and also in sterilization.

M.Ventura MARPOL 6

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 Chemical Sewage Treatment Plants (2)

• A mechanical instrument known as comminutor is used to help

breaking down of the solid particles to smaller ones. The liquid
sewage remains at the top and the solid particles settle down,
which are then discharged to a sewage tank.
• The liquid sewage is chemically treated and is used for toilet
flushing purposes. The sewage from the sewage tank is
discharged to the shore collecting facilities.
• It is important to supply adequate quantity of chemical
dosages to prevent odor and corrosion due to high level of
alkalinity.

M.Ventura MARPOL 7

Biological Sewage Treatment Plants (1)

• Uses bacteria to facilitate the

process of breaking down of solid
constituents.
• It generates an oxygen rich
atmosphere that aerobic bacteria
utilizes to multiply and disintegrate
the sewage waste to convert it into
sludge (aeration process).
• The whole plant is divided into three
compartments:
– Aeration compartment
– Settling compartment
– Chlorine treatment compartment.

M.Ventura MARPOL 8

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 Biological Sewage Treatment Plants (2)

• Sewage enters the sewage treatment plant first through the

aeration compartment. Aerobic bacteria digests the sewage waste
and reduce it to small particles. A continuous supply of atmospheric
oxygen is provided to increase the rate of digestion process.
• The disintegrated solid waste is then transferred to the settling
compartment where the solid constituents settle down under the
effect of gravity.
• The liquid at the top is then passed to the chlorine treatment
compartment. In this compartment the liquid water is treated with
chlorine and other chemicals to kill any surviving bacteria. Once done
the water is then discharged into the sea.
• The process of chlorination is facilitated with the help of chlorine
tablets. The sludge that settles down in the settling compartment is
removed and stored in a storage tank to later discharge it to shore
facilities or decontrolled areas.

M.Ventura MARPOL 9

Discharge of Sewage

• The discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibited, except

when:
1. The ship is discharging
• comminuted and disinfected sewage at a distance > 3 nautical
miles from the nearest land, or
• sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected at a distance
> 12 nautical miles from the nearest land,
provided that in any case, the sewage shall not be discharged
instantaneously but at a moderate rate when the ship is en route
and proceeding at V ≥ 4 knots
2. The ship has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant
and additionally, the effluent shall not produce visible floating
solids nor cause discoloration of the surrounding water.

M.Ventura MARPOL 10

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 Standard Discharge Connections

• To enable pipes connections between the reception facilities

and the ship, both lines shall be fitted with a standard
discharge connection in accordance with the following table:

• For ships having a Depth ≤ 5 m, the inner diameter may be 38 mm

• In alternative, ships in dedicated trades, i.e. passenger ferries,
the ship’s discharge pipeline may be fitted with quick connection
couplings.
M.Ventura MARPOL 11

Annex V - Prevention of Pollution by Garbage

from Ships

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 Definitions

• Garbage - means all kinds of victual, domestic and operational

waste excluding fresh fish and parts thereof, generated
during the normal operation of the ship and liable to be
disposed of continuously or periodically
• Special Area - means a sea area where for recognized
technical reasons in relation to its oceanographical and
ecological condition and to the particular character of its
traffic the adoption of special mandatory methods for the
prevention of sea pollution by garbage is required.

M.Ventura MARPOL 13

Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from

Ships
Application
• Unless expressly provided otherwise, the provisions of this
Annex shall apply to all ships.

M.Ventura MARPOL 14

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 Garbage Outside Special Areas (1)

• The disposal into the sea of all plastics, including but not
limited to synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, plastic
garbage bags and incinerator ashes from plastic products
which may contain toxic or heavy metal residues, is
prohibited.
• The disposal into the sea of the following garbage shall be
made as far as practicable from the nearest land but is
prohibited if the distance from the nearest land is less than:
i. 25 nautical miles for dunnage, lining and packing materials which
will float
ii. 12 nautical miles for food wastes and all other garbage including
paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery and similar
refuse

M.Ventura MARPOL 15

Garbage Outside Special Areas (2)

• The disposal into the sea of garbage specified in

subparagraph (ii) may be permitted when:
– it has passed through a comminuter or grinder and
– Is made as far as practicable from the nearest land but in any
case is prohibited if the distance from the nearest land is < 3
nautical miles.
– Comminuted or ground garbage shall be capable of passing
through a screen with openings <= 25 mm

• When the garbage is mixed with other discharges having

different disposal or discharge requirements the more
stringent requirements shall apply.

M.Ventura MARPOL 16

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 Garbage Processing Equipment (1)

• Comminuter - is an oversized
garbage disposal that reduces food
scraps to a finely chopped residual,
which is rinsed out of the unit with
a steady stream of water. The
effluent is a slurry of water and
food bits.

• Compactors - make garbage easier

to store, to transfer to port
reception facilities and to dispose
of at sea when discharge limitations
permit.

Delitek AS DT-200i Waste

Compactor
M.Ventura MARPOL 17

Garbage Processing Equipment (2)

• Shredder - ideal for most waste

materials such as various food
waste including bones, paper and
cardboard, tins and soda cans, PE
soda bottles, other PE materials
etc.

Delitek AS DT-230 SR
Shredder
M.Ventura MARPOL 18

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 Special Requirements for Disposal of
Garbage
• The disposal of any materials regulated by this Annex is
prohibited from:
– fixed or floating platforms engaged in the exploration,
exploitation and associated offshore processing of sea-bed
mineral resources
– all other ships when alongside or within 500 m of such platforms
• The disposal into the sea of food wastes is permitted when:
– They have been passed through a comminuter or grinder
– They are located more than 12 nautical miles from land

M.Ventura MARPOL 19

Garbage Disposal in Special Areas

• Disposal into the sea of the following is prohibited:

i. all plastics, including but not limited to synthetic ropes,
synthetic fishing nets, plastic garbage bags and incinerator
ashes from plastic products which may contain toxic or heavy
metal residues; and
ii. all other garbage, including paper products, rags, glass, metal,
bottles, crockery, dunnage, lining and packing materials
• Disposal into the sea of food wastes shall be made as far as
practicable from land, at least > 12 nautical miles from the
nearest land
• Disposal into the Wider Caribbean Region of food wastes
comminuted or grinded is acceptable at distances > 3 nautical
miles from the nearest land.

M.Ventura MARPOL 20

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 Special Areas

For the purpose of this Annex, the special areas are:

• the Mediterranean Sea area
• the Baltic Sea area
• the Black Sea area
• the Red Sea area
• the “Gulfs area"
• the North Sea area
• the Antarctic area
• the Wider Caribbean Region, including the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean Sea

M.Ventura MARPOL 21

Summary of Garbage Disposal Regulations

M.Ventura MARPOL 22

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 Summary of Garbage Disposal Regulations

NOTES:

M.Ventura MARPOL 23

M.Ventura MARPOL 24

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 Compaction Options on Board

M.Ventura MARPOL 25

Incineration Options (1)

M.Ventura MARPOL 26

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 Incineration Options (2)

M.Ventura MARPOL 27

Annex VI - Prevention of Atmospheric

Pollution by Ships

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 Definitions

Emission - means any release of substances, subject to control by this

Annex from ships into the atmosphere or sea.

Sludge oil - means sludge from the fuel or lubricating oil separators,
waste lubricating oil from main or auxiliary machinery, or waste oil
from bilge water separators, oil filtering equipment or drip trays.

Ozone Depleting Substances – substances that may be found on board

ship include, but are not limited to:
– Halon 1211 Bromochlorodifluoromethane
– Halon 1301 Bromotrifluoromethane
– Halon 2402 1,2-Dibromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (Halon 114B2)
– CFC-11 Trichlorofluoromethane
– CFC-12 Dichlorodifluoromethane
– CFC-113 1.1.2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane
– CFC-114 1.2-Dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane
– CFC-115 Chloropentafluoroethane

M.Ventura MARPOL 29

Prevention of Atmospheric Pollution by

Ships
Application
• The provisions of this Annex shall apply to all ships.

M.Ventura MARPOL 30

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 Prevention of Atmospheric Pollution by
Ships
Regulates
• Substances that affect the ozone
• Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from Diesel engines
• Content of Sulphur Oxides (SOx) in the Fuel Oils
• Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from cargo tanks of
tanker ships
• Incinerators
• Reception Facilities
• Quality of the Fuel Oils
• Issuing of the Certificate

M.Ventura MARPOL 31

Shipboard Incineration

• Shipboard incineration shall be allowed only in a shipboard

incinerator
• Incineration of the following substances shall be prohibited:
– Annex I, II and III cargo residues of this convention and related
contaminated packing materials
– polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
– garbage, containing more than traces of heavy metals
– refined petroleum products containing halogen compounds
• Incineration of sewage sludge and sludge oil generated during
the normal operation of a ship is accepted in the main or
auxiliary boilers, but not inside ports, harbours and estuaries.
• Incineration of polyvinyl chlorides (PVCs) shall be prohibited

M.Ventura MARPOL 32

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 Annex VI Revision

• The revised MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations for the

Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) and the revised NOx
Technical Code 2008 were adopted by IMO’s Marine
Environment Protection Committee in October 2008
• Entry into force date of 1 July 2010.
• The reviewed documents includes:
– The revised MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention
of Air Pollution from Ships), including emission limits and
operational requirements
– The NOx Technical Code 2008, is made mandatory under
MARPOL Annex VI for all marine diesel engines with a power
output of 130 kW or more, and provides the requirements for the
testing, survey and certification of marine diesel engines
– Interim guidelines for application of the NOx Technical Code
2008
– Standard specifications for shipboard incinerators.

M.Ventura MARPOL 33

International Convention for the Control and

Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and
Sediments (BWM), 2004

Prof. Manuel Ventura

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 Protection of the Marine Eco-Systems

• It is estimated that about 10 billion tons of ballast water are

moved annually by the merchant ships, 100 millions of tons of
sediments and microscopical marine species are transferred
to environments in relation to which they are foreign and
often noxious or destructives

• The ballast water is responsible, for example, for the

introduction of the toxic dinoflagelaciae, a type of algae

• These algae can survive during year inside the ballast tanks

• Once discharged into another environment they are able to

poison some marine species and even humans

M.Ventura MARPOL 35

Technologies Applied

• Reduction of the entry of organisms on board (filters)

• Retention of the ballast water on board
• Treatment systems by facilities on shore
• Renewal of the ballast water in the sea
• Treatment of the ballast water on board, before discharging

M.Ventura MARPOL 36

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 Retention of the Ballast Water on Board

• Not compatible with the normal operations of

loading/unloading

• Can be not feasible due to safety reasons related with the

trim and the stability of the ship

• Generally it is not an option for the ocean going ships

• Requires reception facilities on shore

M.Ventura MARPOL 37

Treatment Systems by Facilities on Shore

• Requires the ship to have a ballast system with capacity to

pump to shore

• The salt content of the water and the high flow rate required
prevents the usage of most port systems

M.Ventura MARPOL 38

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 Renewal of the Ballast Water

Advantages
• Most used
• Does not require adaptations of the ship
• It is not very costly

Disadvantages
• Demands the ballast to be pumped 3 times
• Hull subject to a stress increase
• Stability problems
• Higher FO consumption
• More emissions
M.Ventura MARPOL 39

Ballast Water Treatment Systems

• Separation/filtering - to minimize the quantity of sediments

coming into the ballast tanks

• Ultra-Violet Radiation

M.Ventura MARPOL 40

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 Ballast Water Management

• Entries into force 12 month after the ratification by 30

states, representing 35% of the tonnage of the world
merchant fleet

• Reception Facilities
– The ports and terminals where ballast tank cleaning or repairs
occur shall have adequate reception facilities for the sediments
• Research and Monitoring
– The scientific and technical research on ballast water
management shall be promoted
– The results from the ballast water management shall be
monitored
• Inspection and Certificates

M.Ventura MARPOL 41

Water Ballast Management Plan

• Ships shall implement and have on board a Water Ballast

Management Plan, approved by the Administration

• Ships shall have a Ballast Water Register Book, where it is

recorded:
– When the ship is ballasted
– When the ballast is renewed or treated
– When ballast is discharged into the sea
– When ballast is discharged into reception installations, on shore
– Accidental ballast discharges

M.Ventura MARPOL 42

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