Laws and Safety Equipment

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POLLUTION REGULATIONS AND ASSOCIATED PLACARDS

United States vessels of 26 feet or longer must display in a prominent location, a durable placard at least 5 by 8 inches, fixed in a conspicuous place in the machinery spaces, or at the bilge pump control station, notifying the crew and passengers of oil discharge restrictions.

Capacity to retain oily mixtures

• Regulations issued under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act require all vessels with propulsion machinery to have a capacity to retain oily mixtures on board and be equipped with a fixed or portable means to discharge these oily mixtures to a reception facility. A bucket and rags meet this requirement.
• On recreational vessels, a bucket, oil absorbent pads and heavy-duty plastic bag, bailer or portable pump are some suitable means that meet the requirement for retention on board until transferring the oily mixture to a reception facility.
• No person may intentionally drain oil or oily waste from any source into the bilge of any vessel.

DISCHARGE OF GARBAGE PROHIBITED

The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (MARPOL ANNEX V) places limitations on the discharge of garbage from vessels. It is illegal to dump plastic trash anywhere in the ocean or navigable waters of the United States. It is also illegal to discharge garbage in the navigable waters of the United States, including inland waters as well as anywhere in the Great Lakes. The discharge of other types of garbage is permitted outside of specific distances offshore as determined by the nature of that garbage.

Waste Management

United States oceangoing vessels of 40 feet or longer, which are engaged in commerce or are equipped with a galley and berthing must have a written Waste Management Plan.

Marine Sanitation Devices

No person shall maintain or operate upon the waters of this state any vessel which is equipped with a marine sanitary device unless such water closet is self-contained and incapable of discharging directly into the water. It is unlawful to deposit or discharge human waste or other refuse into the water.

Preventing Discharge

When operating a vessel on a body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated sewage is prohibited, such as No Discharge Zones, the operator must secure the device in a manner that prevents any discharge. Some acceptable methods are:

• Padlocking overboard discharge valves in the closed position, using a non-releasable wire tie to hold overboard discharge valves in the closed position.
• Closing overboard discharge valves and removing the handle.
• Locking the door, with padlock or key lock, to the space enclosing the toilets (for Type I, Type II only).

Most marinas have dedicated “pump out” stations available for removing sewage. All boaters should pump out sewage holding tanks on a regular basis.