Part II: Noxious liquid substances (Marpol 73/78 Annex II)

Excerpts of the relevant provisions of Marpol 73/78 Annex II: Regulation 3: Categorisation and listing of noxious liquid substances For the purpose of the Regulations of this Annex, noxious liquid substances shall be divided into four categories as follows: Category A: noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a major hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause serious harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore justify the application of stringent anti-pollution measures; Category B: noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore justify the application of special anti-pollution measures; Category C: noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a minor hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause minor harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore require special operational conditions; Category D: noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a recognisable hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause minimal harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore require some attention in operational conditions. [...]. […]. […]. (Further guidelines on the categorisation of substances, including a list of categorised substances are given in Regulation 3(2) to (4) and Regulation 4 and the Appendices to Marpol 73/78 Annex II) Regulation 5: Discharge of noxious liquid substances Category A, B and C substances outside special areas and Category D substances in all areas Subject to the provisions of […] Regulation 6 of this Annex, The discharge into the sea of substances in Category A as defined in Regulation 3(1)(a) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. If tanks containing such substances or mixtures are to be washed, the resulting residues shall be discharged to a reception facility until the concentration of the substance in the effluent to such facility is at or below 0,1 % by weight and until the tank is empty, with the exception of phosphorus, yellow or white, for which the residual concentration shall be 0,01 % by weight. Any water subsequently added to the tank may be discharged into the sea when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category B as defined in Regulation 3(1)(b) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the procedures and arrangements for discharge are approved by the (flag State) administration. Such procedures and arrangements shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO) and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern of the ship does not exceed 1 part per million; the maximum quantity of cargo discharged from each tank and its associated piping system does not exceed the maximum quantity approved in accordance with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, which shall in no case exceed the greater of 1 m^(3) or 1/3000 of the tank capacity in m^(3); the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category C as defined in Regulation 3(1)(c) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the procedures and arrangements for discharge are approved by the (flag State) administration. Such procedures and arrangements shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO) and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern of the ship does not exceed 10 parts per million; the maximum quantity of cargo discharged from each tank and its associated piping system does not exceed the maximum quantity approved in accordance with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, which shall in no case exceed the greater of 3 m^(3) or 1/1000 of the tank capacity in m^(3); the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category D as defined in Regulation 3(1)(d) of this Annex, or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; such mixtures are of a concentration not greater than one part of the substance in ten parts of water; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land. Ventilation procedures approved by the (flag State) administration may be used to remove cargo residues from a tank. Such procedures shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO). Any water subsequently introduced into the tank shall be regarded as clean and shall not be subject to paragraphs 1, 2, 3 or 4 of this Regulation. The discharge into the sea of substances which have not been categorised, provisionally assessed, or evaluated as referred to in Regulation 4(1) of this Annex, or of ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. Category A, B and C substances within special areas (as defined in Marpol 73/78 Annex II, Regulation 1, including the Baltic Sea) Subject to the provisions of […] Regulation 6 of this Annex, The discharge into the sea of substances in Category A as defined in Regulation 3(1)(a) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. If tanks containing such substances or mixtures are to be washed, the resulting residues shall be discharged to a reception facility which the States bordering the special area shall provide in accordance with Regulation 7 of this Annex, until the concentration of the substance in the effluent to such facility is at or below 0,05 % by weight and until the tank is empty, with the exception of phosphorus, yellow or white, for which the residual concentration shall be 0,005 % by weight. Any water subsequently added to the tank may be discharged into the sea when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category B as defined in Regulation (3)(1)(b) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: the tank has been prewashed in accordance with the procedure approved by the (flag State) Administration and based on standards developed by the (IMO) and the resulting tank washings have been discharged to a reception facility; the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the procedures and arrangements for discharge and washings are approved by the (flag State) Administration. Such procedures and arrangements shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO) and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern of the ship does not exceed 1 part per million; the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category C as defined in Regulation 3(1)(c) of this Annex or of those provisionally assessed as such, or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; the procedures and arrangements for discharge are approved by the (flag State) administration. Such procedures and arrangements shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO) and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern of the ship does not exceed 1 part per million; the maximum quantity of cargo discharged from each tank and its associated piping system does not exceed the maximum quantity approved in accordance with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph which shall in no case exceed the greater of 1 m^(3) or 1/3000 of the tank capacity in m^(3); the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 m. Ventilation procedures approved by the (flag State) administration may be used to remove cargo residues from a tank. Such procedures shall be based upon standards developed by the (IMO). Any water subsequently introduced into the tank shall be regarded as clean and shall not be subject to paragraphs 7, 8 or 9 of this Regulation. The discharge into the sea of substances which have not been categorised, provisionally assessed or evaluated as referred to in Regulation 4(1) of this Annex, or of ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit a ship from retaining on board the residues from a Category B or C cargo and discharging such residues into the sea outside a special area in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3 of this Regulation, respectively. Regulation 6: Exceptions Regulation 5 of this Annex shall not apply to: the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea; or the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment: provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimising the discharge; and except if the owner or the master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result; or the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances, approved by the (flag State) administration, when being used for the purpose of combating specific pollution incidents in order to minimise the damage from pollution. Any such discharge shall be subject to the approval of any government in whose jurisdiction it is contemplated the discharge will occur.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.