Hong Kong: New Regulation for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships by Garbage

The Hong Kong Marine Department advises that regulation Cap 413 Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) will be replaced by Cap 413O.

The new regulation will come into effect on 1 July 2015 and apply to all ships within Hong Kong waters and to Hong Kong registered ships.

Ships are required to comply with the following requirements under Cap 413O:

1.   discharge of any garbage from a ship within Hong Kong waters is prohibited except cargo hold, deck and external surfaces wash water which does not contain cleaning agents or additives harmful to the marine environment;

2.   a ship of 12 meters or more in length overall must display a Garbage Discharge Placard (GDP) onboard to notify crew and passengers of the garbage discharge requirements.

3.   a ship, which is : (i) of 100 gross tonnage or above; or (ii) certified to carry 15 or more persons must have onboard a Garbage Management Plan (GMP). The GMP must provide written procedures for minimizing, collecting, storing, processing and disposing of garbage.

4.   a ship , which is : (i) of 400 GT or above and is certified to carry less than 15 persons; (ii) of 400 GT or above, certified to carry 15 or more persons and engaged in a voyage of more than one hour in duration; must have onboard a Garbage Record Book (GRB) to record the handling of shipboard garbage. Each discharge of garbage into the sea or to a reception facility must be recorded in the GRB and signed by the person in charge of the discharge on the date of the discharge. Each completed page of the GRB shall be signed by the coxswain of a local vessel, or the master of other vessels.

To read the full text of the new regulation, please refer to the Government of the Hong Kong SAR Gazette pr alternatively click here.