MARINE NOTICE 18 / 2009
Ensuring Adequate Waste Reception Facilities
The provision of adequate port waste reception facilities for ships’ waste is vital to preventing marine pollution. As a Party to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Australia must ensure that reception facilities are available in ports and terminals adequate to meet the needs of ships using them for oily waste, residues of noxious liquid substances, sewage, garbage, exhaust gas cleaning residues and ozone depleting substances.
Arranging for waste reception
A list of waste reception contact points for Australian ports may be accessed online at www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Protection_of_Pollution_from_Ships/Waste_reception_Facilities/Australian_NZ_Ports.asp
A hard copy booklet may be obtained by emailing eps@amsa.gov.au or calling 02 6279 5933.
These contact points are also maintained in the Port Reception Facilities database within International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Global Integrated Shipping Information System http://gisis.imo.org/Public/
Ships’ crews and agents are encouraged to make waste reception arrangements where possible at least 24 hours in advance of the ship’s arrival in port although specific requirements may vary.
Shipping companies are urged to include the procedures to be followed by ships’ Masters in their procedures for shipboard operations as required under Section 7 of the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention.
Reporting inadequacies
Where a ship’s Master or agent finds reception facilities in a port inadequate – for example a facility not available or inconveniently located, unreasonable charges and/or undue delay – the Master should communicate all relevant details using the IMO reporting format MEPC/Circ.469/Rev.1.
The report should be forwarded to the vessel’s flag State; and a copy sent to AMSA (as the port State authority) at the following address:
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Maritime Standards Division
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
Canberra ACT 2601
Notification should be made as soon as possible. AMSA will investigate the report with the relevant port authority and provide information on the outcome of the investigation to IMO and the flag State.
Guide to best practice
IMO recently published a “Guide to good practice for port reception facility providers and users” (MEPC Circular No. 671). This Guide is intended to be a practical users’ guide for ships’ crews who seek to deliver MARPOL residues/wastes ashore and for port reception facility providers who seek to provide timely, efficient port reception facilities for ships. The Guide is available from AMSA’s website at www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Protection_of_Pollution_from_Ships/Waste_reception_Facilities/index.asp
Ships’ crews, agents, port authorities and waste service providers are strongly encouraged to apply the practices described within the Guide wherever possible.
Graham Peachey
Chief Executive Officer
24 December 2009
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601
File No: 2009/539