An Update On Revised MARPOL Annex V

In January changes to the way in which Cargo residues were classified came into effect by way of changes to MARPOL Annex V (see our client alert of 8 March 2013; Revised MARPOL Annex V: Just Who Should Take Out the Trash?). These changes were met with some concern by both charterers and owners in that any residues of cargo designated hazardous to the marine environment HME were now to be discharged to reception facilities ashore and could no longer be disposed of on passage.

Quite apart from the immediate operational issues owners would face, concerns were focused on two main areas:

• The database required for the HME designation was not ready and not expected to be fully operational until sometime in 2015