HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 14/7
Adopted 3 February 1993 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention
GUIDELINES FOR PROVISIONS OF FACILITIES FOR THE HANDLING, STORAGE AND PROCESSING OF SHIPBOARD GARBAGE
THE COMMISSION,
RECALLING Regulation 8 of Annex IV of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), concerning the discharge of garbage,
RECALLING ALSO that the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of IMO has developed the Guidelines for the implementation of Annex V of MARPOL 73/78,
RECALLING FURTHER that these guidelines are dealing with shipboard garbage handling, storage and processing facilities in general and that they recommend the separation of garbage in paragraph 4.3 and a placard in paragraph 2.4,
RECOGNIZING the need for the standardization of the storage capacities for ship garbage and its separation,
RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention should, while awaiting the Guidelines approved by IMO, apply the attached Guidelines for shipboard garbage handling, storage and processing facilities for ships the keel of which is laid on or after 1 October 1993 and existing ships as far as possible.
ATTACHMENT
Guidelines for provisions of facilities for the handling, storage and processing of shipboard garbage
1. General
These Guidelines are applicable to garbage handling, storage and processing facilities in order to meet the requirements of the Helsinki Convention.
2. Ships other than fishing vessels
The Guidelines deal with garbage incinerators, compactors, comminuters and capacity of garbage containers of ships as shown in Appendix 1 and a placard with instructions shown in Appendix 2.
The placard should be at least 12.5 by 20.0 centimetres, made of durable material and fixed in a conspicuous place in galley spaces, the mess deck, wardroom, areas in which garbage handling, storage and processing equipment is installed and other areas of the ship, as appropriate.
3. Fishing vessels
Fishing vessels should be equipped with arrangements for retaining garbage onboard until it can be discharged to reception facilities. Fishing vessels of a length of 8.0 meters and above should have a placard of a size of 12.5 by 20.0 centimetres. It should be placed where it is easily noticed, preferably close to garbage storage containers, galley spaces and on the open deck. The instructions on the placard are shown in Appendix 3.
4. Language of the placard
The text of the placard shown in Appendices 2 and 3 should be printed in the language or languages understood by the crew.
HELCOM Recommendation 14/7
Attachment
Appendix 1
SHIPBOARD GARBAGE HANDLING, STORAGE AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
| Gross tonnage *) | |||||||
| Up to 400 | 400 to 1,600 | 1,600 to 4,000 | 4,000 to 10,000 | 10,000 and above | Ships carrying more than 50 persons | ||
| Up to 10 persons | Up to 50 persons | ||||||
| Minimum total capacity of garbage storage containers (M3) | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 5 | 1.0 m3 per 100 persons per day |
Three garbage containers should be available according to the three categories mentioned in the Guidelines for the implementation of Annex V of MARPOL 73/78. Garbage can usually be expected to consist of 50 % glass, cardboard, etc., 25 % plastic and 25 % of food wastes. The capacity of the garbage storage containers may be reduced for ships which are running regularly between two ports or are on short voyages.
If garbage incinerators, compactors and comminutors are installed onboard the capacity of the garbage storage containers may be reduced according to the above mentioned Guidelines.
Appendix 2
TREATMENT OF GARBAGE FROM SHIPS
Garbage from ships has to be separated according to the below mentioned table and collected in containers or garbage rooms.
The discharge of ship-generated garbage to port reception facilities shall be given first priority.
The legal disposal of ship-generated garbage into the sea is only possible following the order of the Master of Officers observing the table listed hereafter.
Illegal disposal of garbage into the sea will be prosecuted.
| DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE INTO THE SEA | ||
| Garbage | Outside Special Areas | Special Areas *) |
| All plastic, including synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets and plastic garbage bags | prohibited | prohibited |
| Dunnage, lining and packing materials which will float | 25 nautical miles from the nearest land | prohibited |
| Paper products, rags, glass,metal, bottles, crockery and similar refuse | 12 nautical miles from the nearest land | prohibited |
| Food wastes | 12 nautical miles from the nearest land | 12 nautical miles from the nearest land |
*) Baltic Sea, North Sea including English Channel and other Special Areas defined in Annex V of MARPOL 73/78 as amended.
Appendix 3
DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE INTO THE SEA IS FORBIDDEN
All garbage which contains plastic (including plastic bags for wastes), metal, wood, paper, synthetic repoes, synthetic fishing nets and garbage of similar nature shall be retained on board for subsequent disposal to reception facilities in ports.
However, disposal of food wastes into the sea is permitted outside 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.
Illegal disposal of garbage into the sea will be prosecuted.