Bulk cargo hold wash water discharge and cargo declarations under MARPOL Annex V

As of 1st January 2013, amendments to MARPOL Annex V mean that shippers have new responsibilities regarding cargo classification and how it affects the ability of the crew to discharge hold wash water into the marine environment. From this date shippers will need to consider whether or not the cargo residues present in the water are harmful to the marine environment (HME). This paper sets out the requirements as well as the concept and process of classification of cargoes as HME.

NOTE:

Information in this document is provided by ITOPF in good faith based on the best information available at the time of publishing.

ITOPF would like to acknowledge and thank several external proof readers for their contributions. They included (but were not limited to) Lorraine Weller of the MCA and Ian Harrison of INTERCARGO.

19 July 2013

Category: Technical Advisory Paper (TAPS)