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Stow it Don't Throw it

Garbage pollution from vessels

Boat users have traditionally dumped their garbage into the sea as a matter of course. Oceans were seen as vast domains in which garbage became invisible because it either decayed or sank.

Today the situation is very different, mainly because we all use so many non-biodegradable products such as plastics. Once thrown into the sea, they are extremely persistent and potentially harmful to humans and marine life.

The beauty of our coastlines and beaches is devalued as garbage accumulates. Beaches, often in remote places, are polluted by garbage washed up from the sea. Much of this garbage comes from ships, yachts, trawlers and other marine craft.

Garbage can be fatal for marine animals such as turtles and whales which mistake plastic bags for jellyfish - a source of food. Other plastic material can be mistaken as food and eaten by fish, seabirds and other marine life, causing death. Garbage also entangles seabirds, seals, turtles and fish, trapping and slowly choking them to death.

Source: Ted Mead Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife

Garbage can also be costly for recreational boaters and the fishing industry. Rope and plastic material may get caught in propeller shafts or block water intakes causing major damage, expensive repairs and loss of income while vessels are repaired.

If you use the sea for recreational or commercial purposes it is in your interest to ensure that our seas stay clean and unpolluted.

The Law

To prevent pollution of the sea by garbage, Australian laws impose strict controls and allow for heavy fines for polluters.

The garbage regulations are based on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as MARPOL) and apply to all vessels including dinghies, yachts and fishing vessels.

All boat operators should be aware of two basic principles:

No plastics thrown into the sea

No garbage discharged within 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

Operators of vessels are required to hold all garbage onboard for disposal at shore facilities.

If you are boating in the Great Barrier Reef region, you should know the discharge of all types of pollutants are prohibited. The only exception is the release of small quantities of food waste for the specific purpose of fish feeding for tourist or fishing operations.

The law does permit the disposal of certain types of garbage however there are strict requirements on where and how this can be done. Large vessels with specialised grinding/shredding equipment are able to discharge certain types of garbage when they are beyond a specific distance from land.

Penalties

Fines of up to $A1.3 million for companies and $A260,000 for individuals may be imposed on boat operators illegally discharging garbage at sea. To avoid a fine, bring your rubbish back to shore and don’t trash our seas.

Types of Garbage

Garbage from vessels may be domestic, operational or maintenance wastes. This includes but is not limited to:

food wastes	paper products	rags
glass	metal	bottles
crockery	fishing gear	nets
bait boxes	lining	packing materials
deck sweepings	paints	wood products
wire	cargo residues	all plastic products etc

Total Ban on Plastics

The discharge of plastics into the sea is totally prohibited in any location. Boat operators must retain all plastic material for disposal at port facilities. A wide variety of plastic products are manufactured. Sometimes you may not realise that a product contains plastic.

Plastic material used at sea includes:

trawl and fishing nets	synthetic ropes	plastic sheeting
'six pack' holders	electrical and electronic components	fibreglass
paints	floats	strapping bands
bags	disposable eating utensils	and many other products

Complying with the Law

Boat operators need to plan ways to reduce the amount of garbage onboard. The best way to avoid a fine and comply with the law is simply to bring all your rubbish back to shore.

Minimise the amount of garbage you have onboard by carefully planning what you take to sea. For example don’t use disposable products - use crockery instead of paper cups and plates. If you compact or crush your garbage it will take up less space on the vessel and can be disposed later at shore facilities.

Fishermen have an added responsibility not to pollute the resource which provides their livelihood. Discarded trawl, gill and other fishing nets can become a navigational hazard and cause considerable damage and affect the safety of other vessels.

Fishing vessels must make every effort to retrieve all lost or damaged fishing gear. If you do lose fishing gear, report the approximate position and reasons for the loss to Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) in Canberra. This allows other vessels to look out for and retrieve the gear.

If it is practicable, fishing gear should have degradable panels of natural material to reduce the potential for entanglement of marine life.

Shore Facilities

Under international law, facilities in ports for the disposal of waste from vessels are required. Facilities must be appropriate for the amount of boating activity in the area.

If shore facilities are not adequate for the disposal of your garbage, let the marina owner or port authority know. You should also notify State/Territory and local officials of the inadequate facilities. If enough people express concern the facilities are likely to be upgraded.

Shipboard waste management

MARPOL requires vessels over 400 tons to develop a waste management plan which contains procedures for collecting, storing, processing and disposal of garbage. Ships must be fitted with appropriate garbage handling equipment such as compactors or incinerators.

Vessels over 400 tons will also need to enter details of every garbage incineration or disposal in a garbage record book. The record book and any receipt for using a waste reception facility in port must be kept for two years and be available for inspection by authorities.

Placards

All vessels of 12 metres or more in length are required to display placards which provide information about garbage laws. The placards should be visible in areas where garbage may be generated and in full view of crew and passengers. The wording for the placards should be similar to the following example:

INTERNATIONAL POLLUTION REGULATIONS

MARPOL73/78 CONVENTION, ANNEX V

DISPOSAL OF ALL PLASTICS INTO THE SEA IS

PROHIBITED

NON-PLASTIC GARBAGE WHICH CANNOT BE RETAINED ON BOARD FOR PROPER DISPOSAL ASHORE MAY ONLY BE DISPOSED OF AT SEA PROVIDED THAT THE VESSEL IS MORE THAN 12 NM FROM NEAREST LAND.

More information

If you want more information on maritime garbage disposal laws, contact your local state marine/port/ transport authority or

Environment Protection Standards
Maritime Safety & Environmental Strategy
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6279 5610
Facsimile: 02 6279 5026
Email: email

You can help

The protection of the marine environment is the responsibility of everybody. Be aware of the threats to our waterways and oceans and of the serious effects pollutants can have on the marine environment.

All illegal discharges of garbage should be reported to the local authorities or to AMSA. Polluters must be held responsible for their actions.

If you witness a vessel polluting make a report to the local marine/port/transport authority or through AusSAR in Canberra. Be sure to get the vessel’s name or number, the location of the discharge and a description of the type of garbage disposed. Take photographs or collect the garbage if possible. This will be useful for further investigation and possible prosecution of the polluters.

AusSAR operates 24 hours and can be contacted on:

FREECALL: 1800 641 792
Phone: 02 6230 6811
Facsimile: 02 6230 6868

Pollution report messages via a Telstra Maritime Communications Station are free of charge.