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Special measures for a special seaoilspillgulfbotnia[1].jpg

In accordance with MARPOL 73/78, under which the Baltic Sea area has been designated as a special area under Annexes I and V, far-reaching prohibitions and restrictions on any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures and garbage have been introduced by the Baltic Sea States.

The Baltic Sea had been also a special area in relation to discharges of noxious liquid substances until revised Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 came into force in 2007, which upheld however the same demanding restrictions.

In addition, regulations concerning the discharge of sewage into the sea and the prohibition of incineration of ship-generated wastes in the territorial seas of the Baltic Sea States have been adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention.

There is also a general ban on dumping and incineration of other wastes, not incidental to or derived from the normal operation of ships, in the entire Baltic Sea area. 

In 2009, the Contracting Parties agreed on a joint submission to IMO to amend Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78 and to designate the Baltic Sea as a special area for sewage discharges from passenger ships (Proposal to amend MARPOL Annex IV, Guidelines for designation of special areas, Background paper regarding the Baltic Sea). The proposal will be discussed at the 60th Session of IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee on 22-26 March 2010.

Nevertheless, several hundreds of illegal discharges are observed during aerial surveillance flights by the Baltic Sea States and the total amount of pollution cases is considered to be even higher.

The Baltic Strategy

To address the issue of pollution of the marine environment by ship-generated waste the Helsinki Commission has elaborated and approved the Strategy for Port Reception Facilities for Ship-generated Wastes and Associated Issues, also known as the Baltic Strategy, which comprises a set of measures and regulations with the main goals  to ensure ships' compliance with global and regional discharge regulations and to eliminate illegal discharges into the sea of all wastes from all ships.

Check our Clean Seas Guide for a comprehensive overview of the anti-pollution regulations applicable to the ships in the Baltic.

No good reason for not using port reception facilities

Over 210 port reception facilities are provided in ports located around the Baltic Sea. These facilities should be able to meet the needs of ships without undue delay. The "no-special-fee" system has been designed to encourage the use of port reception facilities. This means that fees covering the cost of the reception, handling and final disposal of ship-generated wastes are included in the harbour fee or otherwise charged to the ship, irrespective of whether any wastes are actually delivered.

 

Links

 

Baltic Legal Manual (BSEP No. 77)

Guidelines on Ensuring Successful Convictions of Offenders of Anti-pollution Regulations at Sea (BSEP No. 78)

Estimated nutrient load from waste waters originating from ships in the Baltic Sea area, updated 2009 (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)