See unitsPollution prevention on ships: oil record book, garbage plan, SOPEP, ballast water and emission control areas
The garbage management plan and the garbage record book
1The lesson in plain words
Plan how you reduce, sort, store and land garbage. Record every discharge, incineration and landing by category, A to K.
The plan
MARPOL Annex V covers garbage. Every ship of 100 GT or more, every ship certified to carry 15 or more persons, and every fixed or floating platform must have a garbage management plan (GMP). It sets procedures to minimise, collect, store, process and dispose of garbage, names the person in charge and lists the equipment. Write it in the crew's working language. The discharge rules themselves are in Pollution at sea.
The record book
Since 1 May 2024, ships of 100 GT or more need a garbage record book (GRB); before, the limit was 400 GT. Ships certified for 15 or more persons on international voyages and platforms need one too. Part I covers all garbage except cargo residues. Part II covers cargo residues, for ships that carry solid bulk cargoes. Electronic GRBs approved by the flag are allowed.
What to record
Record each discharge, landing, incineration and accidental loss, with date, time, category and estimated volume in cubic metres. For sea discharges, give position; for landings, give the port, or receiving ship and position. For incineration, give start and stop times and positions. For accidental losses, record the circumstances and precautions too. The officer in charge signs each entry; the master signs each completed page. Keep reception receipts and the GRB for 2 years after the last entry.
Categories
The GRB uses eleven categories: A plastics, B food waste, C domestic waste, D cooking oil, E incinerator ash, F operational waste, G animal carcasses, H fishing gear, I e-waste, J cargo residues not harmful to the marine environment, K cargo residues harmful to the marine environment. Plastics, cooking oil, incinerator ash and e-waste never go overboard.
Placards
Every ship of 12 m length overall or more must show placards telling crew and passengers the discharge rules. They must be in the working language and, on voyages to other parties' ports, in English, French or Spanish too. Put them where people dispose of garbage: galley, mess, bridge and engine room.
2Key data
- Garbage management plan
- ≥100 GT, or certified for ≥15 persons, and platforms
- Garbage record book
- ≥100 GT; certified ≥15 persons on international voyages; platforms
- GRB kept
- 2 years after the last entry
- Categories
- A plastics to K harmful cargo residues (11 categories)
- Placards
- Ships of 12 m length overall or more
3Key points
- 1
GMP: 100 GT or more, or certified for 15 or more persons.
- 2
GRB required from 100 GT since 1 May 2024.
- 3
Record discharges, landings, incineration and losses by category A–K.
- 4
Keep the GRB 2 years; keep reception facility receipts.
- 5
Placards on ships of 12 m or more.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: Ships under 400 GT do not need a garbage record book.
Right: Since 1 May 2024 the threshold is 100 GT. Ships certified for 15 or more persons on international voyages need one too.
Wrong: Incinerator ash is harmless and may go overboard.
Right: Incinerator ash (category E) may not be discharged into the sea. Land it ashore.
5Practice case & exam keys
Alongside in port you land 2.5 m³ of mixed plastics, 0.8 m³ of food waste and 4 discarded computer circuit boards. The truck driver gives a receipt with only the total volume. What do you record?
Show the answer
Record one landing with date, time and port, and the estimated amount for each category: A plastics 2.5 m³, B food waste 0.8 m³, I e-waste for the circuit boards, with their small volume. Sign it as officer in charge. Ask for a receipt that shows the categories, and keep it with the GRB. The master signs the page once complete.
Exam keys
- GMP: ≥100 GT, or ≥15 persons, and platforms.
- GRB: ≥100 GT since 1 May 2024; Part I garbage, Part II cargo residues.
- Record date, time, position, category, m³, signature; kept 2 years.
- Categories A–K; placards on ships ≥12 m.
Finish this unit
When you've read it, answer three questions. Get all three right to finish the unit; opening the page alone doesn't count.
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