MARPOL Annex V Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at its 55th session in October 2006 established an intersessional correspondence group to develop the framework, method of work and timetable for a comprehensive review of MARPOL Annex V Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships and the associated Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of MARPOL Annex V.

The Correspondence Group for the Review of MARPOL Annex V completed its work and reported in the autumn of 2010 to the sixty-first session of MEPC who considered and approved the amendments. MEPC at its sixty-second session in July 2011 adopted the amendments to Annex V by resolution MEPC.201(62), which entered into force on 1 January 2013.

The revised Annex V prohibits the discharge of all garbage into the sea, except as provided otherwise. An overview of the revised MARPOL Annex V discharge provisions is attached below.

MEPC 61, having noted the need for amendments to associated guidelines, also established the intersessional Correspondence Group on Reviewing the Guidelines for the Implementation of MARPOL Annex V and the Guidelines for the Development of Garbage Management Plans. The correspondence group finalised its work at MEPC 63 and the Committee adopted the two guidelines by resolution MEPC.219(63) and resolution MEPC.201(63).