Assessing HME cargo residues and problems of their discharge

Mandatory requirements

Since our first circular was sent to members on 20 Feb 2018 as quoted below, we have been closely monitoring feedback from bulk carriers on difficulties to comply the amendments to MARPOL Annex V which entered into force on 1 Mar 2018. The amendments mandate:

• “Solid bulk cargoes …, shall be classified in accordance with appendix I of this Annex, and declared by the shipper as to whether or not they are harmful to the marine environment”.
• New Form of Garbage Record Book – the Garbage Record Book to be split into two parts I & II and the new Garbage Record Book Part II is to be used by bulk carriers carrying solid bulk cargoes from 01 March 2018.

We expected that from 1 Mar, bulk carriers would have paid extra attention to cargoes related Zinc, Lead and Copper and their concentrates, especially the shipper’s declaration on whether or not they are harmful to the marine environment (i.e. HME cargo).

Analysis of Reports directly from bulk carriers

From 16 Feb to 2 May 2018, we received 94 Reports directly from bulk carriers. There are issues highlighted in those Reports: