Lloyd’s Register January 7, 2003 No.
1/2003
Classification NEWS
Statutory alert New MARPOL regulations for prevention of sewage pollution
from ships
Applicability All ship owners and operators
Information Sufficient countries have now ratified MARPOL Annex IV – ‘Prevention of Pollution by Sewage
from Ships’, to bring the Annex into force.
The new Annex, which will enter into force on September 27, 2003, will apply to ships of 400gt and
over engaged on international voyages, and to ships of less than 400gt that are certified to carry
more than 15 persons, and which are constructed or delivered as follows:
• the building contract is placed, or in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is
laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after September 27, 2003
• the delivery of which is three years or more after September 27, 2003.
Ships delivered prior to September 27, 2003, are to comply by September 26, 2008.
Sewage is defined as:
• drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals
• drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay, etc.) via wash basins, wash tubs and
scuppers located in such premises
• drainage from spaces containing living animals
• other waste waters when mixed with the drainages defined above.
The Annex requires ships to be provided with a standard discharge connection and a holding tank,
an approved sewage treatment plant or an approved sewage comminuting and disinfecting
system.
The discharge of sewage will be prohibited less than 3 miles from land unless via a comminuting
and disinfecting system. At more than 12 miles from land the discharge of sewage will be
prohibited from holding tanks unless the ship is on route proceeding at more than four knots or the
Further information discharge is from a sewage treatment plant.
Contact: Graham Greensmith
On completion of an initial survey an International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate can be
Direct Dial: +44 (0) 20 7423 2789
issued1. The certificate is valid for five years; annual and intermediate surveys are not required. An
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7423 2213
additional survey is only required to be held if the equipment is changed, repaired or following an
Email: [email protected]
accident or defect which substantially affects the efficiency or completeness of the equipment.
1
A Certificate of Compliance can be issued for ships whose flag is not a signatory to the
Annex.
Existing ships holding a valid Certificate of Compliance with MARPOL Annex IV, may be
issued with an International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate on completion of a
general examination which will be valid until the expiry date of the existing Certificate of
Compliance.
It is important to note that the IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted
www.lr.org
a revised MARPOL Annex IV in 2000. The revised text can be found on page 458 to 474 of the
2002 Consolidated edition of MARPOL or as MEPC.88(44). The text in the main body of previous
© 2003 Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
Registered office: 71 Fenchurch Street
editions of MARPOL is no longer applicable.
London EC3M 4BS, United Kingdom
