Arctic Council Working Group

Chapter 5: Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from ships (Part IIA)

Chapter summary:

In addition to the existing MARPOL Annex V requirements, this chapter imposes stringent additional requirements on the discharge of various substances, such as food waste. This includes important geographical delimitations. The Chapter contains a total prohibition on the discharge of garbage other than food waste. Procedures must be recorded in the Garbage Record Book, Garbage Management Plan, and the placards as required by MARPOL Annex V and additional guidance.

Additional Guidance for Chapter 2 (Part II-B)
Additional guidance is provided for the carriage and storage of animal carcasses in polar waters. See full text of additional guidance.

Submissions

Hyperlink: IMO Polar Code
Follow this link for DNV GL’s guide to the Polar Code Document ‘Maritime Polar Code: Understand the Code’s requirements to take the right steps for smooth compliance’. For Part IIA, Chapter 5, see page 30.

See also:

Hyperlink 1: https://1bps6437gg8c169i0y1drtgz-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MEPC-72-INF.7-An-assessment-of-ballast-water-treatment-to-protect-Arctic-waters-FOEI.pdf
This is an assessment of ballast water treatment to protect Arctic waters. This document offers in the annex a comprehensive analysis of shipboard ballast water management system performance, based on available data.

Hyperlink 2: https://1bps6437gg8c169i0y1drtgz-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MEPC-73-INF.24-Vessel-biofouling-and-bioinvasions-in-Arctic-waters-FOEI.pdf
This is a paper on vessel biofouling and bioinvasions in Arctic waters. Friends of the Earth offers an independent report, set forth in the annex, that provides findings and recommendations concerning vessel coatings and the protection of Arctic waters from bioinvasions.

Hyperlink 1: The Polar Code: A Regulatory Interpretation Guide
This document provides Loyd's Register guidance on all aspects of the Polar Code (chapter by chapter). For Part IIA Chapter 5, see pages 81 to 82.

Hyperlink 2: Meeting the Polar Code on 1 January 2017: Guidance for Existing Ships (Part IIA)
This document includes information on what steps operators need to take to ensure compliance when operating in polar waters on or after 1 January 2017, when the Polar Code entered into force.

Lloyd's website

Hyperlink 1: Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)
For Chapter 5, see pages 3-4, and 14.

Hyperlink 2: Offshore Vessel Operations In Ice and or Severe Sub Zero Temperatures in Artic and Sub Artic regions (2014).
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to operators and charterers of offshore support vessels employed for use in areas impacted by ice or severe sub-zero temperatures with the aim of encouraging high standards of safety and environmental protection for those operating in Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions.

Hyperlink: https://cgmix.uscg.mil/MARPOL/Default.aspx
The purpose of the Coast Guard Maritime Information Exchange (CGMIX) website is to make Coast Guard maritime information available on the public internet in the form of searchable databases. For Ships Operating in the US Arctic and Near Arctic the CGMIX Public Database includes a link to MARPOL Servicing Facilities.

This online searchable database contains a listing of all U.S. Ports and Terminals holding valid MARPOL Certificates of Adequacy (COAs). Ships operating in the Arctic are subject to additional restrictions relating to discharges of Annex I Oil/Oily residue, Annex II Noxious Liquid Substances, Annex V Garbage including food waste, and Annex VI Ozone Depleting Substances and Stack Scrubber residues. U.S. Ports and Terminals are issued Certificates of Adequacy (COAs) as evidence that their facilities meet the requirements of Annexes I, II, and V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Adequate port reception facilities (PRF) at Arctic and near Arctic ports and terminals are meant to ensure ships can comply with enhanced restrictions on discharges from ships to the sea outlined in the Polar Code. US MARPOL regulations are further detailed in 33 CFR Part158. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/33cfr158_06.html

Additional resources include: -The World Port Index published by the (US) National Geospatial Agency which provides Marine Safety Information on ports and terminals around the world. This publication gives the location, characteristics, known facilities, and available services of a great many ports and shipping facilities and oil terminals throughout the world and can be downloaded as a PDF document. The data is arranged geographically and is keyed to the applicable Volume of the Sailing Directions and shown on a chart. https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/WPI

The IMO's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) which includes databases on pollution prevention equipment for ships and MARPOL port reception facilities. The public, searchable databases are arranged by Member States (including all eight Arctic Council states) and provide contact information for ports and terminals including those in Arctic regions. Information on ships waste management in the form of IMO Guidance can be downloaded from the website for ships and PRF operators. The guidance while not specific to Arctic shipping will be useful for ship operators planning on voyaging in Arctic or near Arctic waters. (MEPC.1/Circ.834.Rev.1) in English, French and Spanish. GISIS Data Base: https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Default.aspx

Guidance (Free Download from the GISIS site): https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Shared/Public/Download.aspx?FileType=UnsecuredFile&FileCode=PRF-GUIDE

Hyperlink: https://pame.is/images/03_Projects/RRFP/Final_report_on_the_Regional_Reception_Facilities_plan_and_draft_submission_for_IMO.pdf
The Regional Waste Management Strategies for Arctic Shipping (RRFP) paper summarizes the work of PAME’s Regional Reception Facilities Experts Group (RRFGEG), on the development of the concept of regional arrangements for MARPOL reception facilities (RRF) to address challenges for Arctic shipping and at Arctic ports. This paper includes proposals for the development of regional ship’s waste management strategies with the goal of 100% compliance with IMO’s MARPOL Convention and Polar Code Amendments to MARPOL.

Hyperlink: https://www.ust.is/the-environment-agency-of-iceland/
The Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. It's role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods. The Agency is responsible for implementing the MARPOL convention.

PART IIA: CHAPTER 5 – PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY GARBAGE FROM SHIPS: Full Polar Code text

As adopted from IMO - Full Polar Code text

5.1 Definitions

  • 5.1.1 Ice-shelf means a floating ice sheet of considerable thickness showing 2 to 50 m or more above sea-level, attached to the coast
  • 5.1.2 Fast ice means sea ice which forms and remains fast along the coast, where it is attached to the shore, to an ice wall, to an ice front, between shoals or grounded icebergs

5.2 Operational requirements

  • 5.2.1 In Arctic waters, discharge of garbage into the sea permitted in accordance with regulation 4 of MARPOL Annex V, shall meet the following additional requirements:
    • .1 discharge into the sea of food wastes is only permitted when the ship is as far as practicable from areas of ice concentration exceeding 1/10, but in any case not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, nearest ice-shelf, or nearest fast ice;
    • .2 food wastes shall be comminuted or ground and shall be capable of passing through a screen with openings no greater than 25 mm. Food wastes shall not be contaminated by any other garbage type;
    • .3 food wastes shall not be discharged onto the ice;
    • .4 discharge of animal carcasses is prohibited; and
    • .5 discharge of cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading shall only be permitted while the ship is en route and where all the following conditions are satisfied:
      • .1 cargo residues, cleaning agents or additives, contained in hold washing water do not include any substances classified as harmful to the marine environment, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization;
      • .2 both the port of departure and the next port of destination are within Arctic waters and the ship will not transit outside Arctic waters between those ports;
      • .3 no adequate reception facilities are available at those ports taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization; and
      • .4 where the conditions of subparagraphs 5.2.1.5.1, 5.2.1.5.2 and 5.2.1.5.3 of this paragraph have been fulfilled, discharge of cargo hold washing water containing residues shall be made as far as practicable from areas of ice concentration exceeding 1/10, but in any case not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, nearest ice shelf, or nearest fast ice.
  • 5.2.2 In the Antarctic area, discharge of garbage into the sea permitted in accordance with regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V, shall meet the following additional requirements:
    • .1 discharges under regulation 6.1 of MARPOL Annex V shall be as far as practicable from areas of ice concentration exceeding 1/10, but in any case not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest fast ice; and
    • .2 food waste shall not be discharged onto ice.
  • 5.2.3 Operation in polar waters shall be taken into account, as appropriate, in the Garbage Record Book, Garbage Management Plan and the placards as required by MARPOL Annex V.