Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY SEWAGE) REGULATION - SECT 28

Restriction on discharge of sewage into sea

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

PART 5

RESTRICTION ON DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE INTO SEA

(1) No sewage may be discharged into the sea from a ship to which this
Regulation applies unless-

   (a)  in the case where the sewage is comminuted and disinfected, all of the
        following conditions are complied with-

        (i)    the ship is discharging the sewage using a system referred to
               in section 1(b) of the Schedule or a sewage comminuting and
               disinfecting system specified in the ISPP Certificate issued in
               respect of the ship, at a distance of more than 3 nautical
               miles from the nearest land;

        (ii)   the sewage that has been stored in holding tanks is not
               discharged instantaneously;

        (iii)  the effluent does not produce visible floating solids nor cause
               discoloration of the surrounding water; and

        (iv)   the ship is proceeding en route at not less than 4 knots;

   (b)  in the case where the sewage is not comminuted or disinfected, all of
        the following conditions are complied with-

        (i)    the sewage is discharged at a distance of more than 12 nautical
               miles from the nearest land;

        (ii)   the sewage that has been stored in holding tanks is not
               discharged instantaneously;

        (iii)  the effluent does not produce visible floating solids nor cause
               discoloration of the surrounding water; and

        (iv)   the ship is proceeding en route at not less than 4 knots; or

   (c)  in the case where the ship has in operation a sewage treatment plant
        referred to in section 1(a) of the Schedule or a sewage treatment
        plant specified in the ISPP Certificate issued in respect of the ship-

        (i)    the test results of the plant are laid down in the ISPP 
               Certificate issued in respect of the ship; and

        (ii)   the effluent does not produce visible floating solids nor cause
               discoloration of the surrounding water.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, when the sewage is mixed with wastes or waste
water which is regulated by the other regulations under the Ordinance, those
regulations shall be complied with in addition to this Regulation.