MARPOL matters

IMO posted the biannual agenda of the DE Sub-Committee for 2012-2013. For the DE-56 meeting a total of 23 agenda items are listed, of which item 19 caught my eye.

Under 19 the "Revision of the Revised guidelines on implementation of effluent standards and performance tests for sewage treatment plants (resolution MEPC.159(55))" will be discussed. Target completion date for this task is 2012, suggesting that revised sewage regulations are in the works.

My friend, Dennis Bryant posted on his blog today the following from the USCG:
"The US Coast Guard issued a notice announcing that, in accordance with IMO Res. MEPC.191(60), the restrictions on discharges from ships in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) special area (SA), as specified in MARPOL Annex V, Regulation 5, will come into effect on May 1, 2011. The WCR includes the Gulf of Mexico. Once the restrictions come into effect, no person may discharge, within the SA, garbage from a ship except (under limited conditions) food wastes. 76 Fed. Reg. 19380 (April 7, 2011).