Disposal of Hold Wash Water and Cargo Residue on dry bulk carriers

Many mariners are unaware that the disposal of hold wash water and cargo residues on dry bulk ship is regulated by the requirements of MARPOL Annex V which governs garbage disposal at sea.

All cargo residues and hold wash water must be disposed of in line with the MARPOL Annex V requirements and practical steps should be taken to minimize residues during loading and discharge operations. Appropriate cleaning agents should be used and their disposal considered in advance.

Residual dry bulk cargo on deck can be washed off and hold washing water can be discharged overboard when a vessel is more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and is not within a Special Area .

Special areas : The North Sea / Baltic Sea / Mediterranean / Black Sea / Red Sea / Persian Gulf / Antarctic / Wider Caribbean Region.   

However, there may be occasions when cargo residue has to be discharged within these special areas as an “exceptional discharge”.

Such exceptional discharge would be permitted with the following conditions :

1. Discharge of washing water must be made not less than 12nm away from land/ice shelf:
2. Cargo residues, cleaning agents or additives contained in hold washing water must not include any substances harmful to marine environment; and
3. Voyage from port of departure to destination must not involve transit outside special area; and
4. No adequate reception facilities in the ports of call.

Please refer the following website.

https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/bulletins/2013/863-0113-control-of-bulk-cargo-residues-worldwide/