MARPOL - An Overview

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MARPOL is the leading international treaty developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to prevent marine pollution from ships - whether through accidents or everyday operations.

It stands for the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, adopted in 1973 and amended in 1978 and subsequent years. It entered into force in 1983 and remains the global standard for marine environmental protection.

Key Points

• MARPOL is made up of six technical Annexes, each addressing a different type of pollution:

                  Annex I – Oil

                  Annex II – Noxious liquid substances in bulk

                  Annex III – Harmful substances carried in packaged form

                  Annex IV – Sewage

                  Annex V – Garbage (including plastics)

                  Annex VI – Air pollution (emissions)

These Annexes establish international rules that all ships and offshore units must follow to reduce pollution at sea.

Annex V focuses on the prevention of garbage pollution from ships and offshore installations.
It applies to all ships of any type, unless explicitly exempted.

• The discharge of all plastics into the sea is strictly prohibited.

• Garbage includes plastics, ropes, fishing gear, cargo residues, food waste, and other operational refuse.

• Discharges of garbage into the sea are only permitted under very specific conditions, such as for the safety of the ship or accidental loss beyond the crew’s control.

• Ports and terminals must provide adequate reception facilities for waste so that ships can dispose of garbage properly rather than dumping it at sea.

• Ships must have a Garbage Management Plan and a Garbage Record Book to document waste handling and discharges.

MARPOL provides a globally coordinated framework to prevent marine pollution and protect sensitive ecosystems.

It helps safeguard marine life, coastal environments and the livelihoods that depend on clean seas.

For offshore operations, compliance with MARPOL — especially Annex V — is an essential part of environmental management and sustainable practice.

If your work involves offshore vessels, rigs or platforms:

• Ensure all waste management and disposal processes comply with MARPOL Annex V.

• Eliminate single-use plastics wherever possible.

• Record all waste and discharges accurately.

• Verify that reception facilities are available at ports or offshore bases.

By adhering to MARPOL, companies and individuals contribute to global efforts to reduce marine pollution and protect the ocean environment.

 Participation in the Clearwater Horizons Project (CWHP) helps companies across the maritime and offshore sectors actively support MARPOL Annex V — the global regulation designed to prevent garbage and plastic pollution from ships and offshore platforms.

By using CWHP’s Green PR Kits and digital waste-tracking systems, companies and crews can:

✅ Demonstrate measurable efforts to reduce plastic waste at source

✅ Quantify and Report marine waste recovered or prevented from entering the ocean

✅ Reinforce compliance with MARPOL Annex V waste management requirements

✅ Promote a positive environmental reputation within the offshore and shipping community

Every gram of plastic collected, weighed and recycled through CWHP contributes directly to the spirit of MARPOL — ensuring that waste generated at sea never becomes waste in The Ocean.

Through collaboration with offshore operators, support vessels, ports and supply chains, CWHP provides an auditable, transparent system that turns compliance into a visible sustainability achievement.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Garbage-Default.aspx

• IMO Convention Overview:
  https://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/Pages/International-Convention-for-the-Prevention-of-Pollution-from-Ships-%28MARPOL%29.aspx

• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) – Annex V Guidance: https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/012022-marpol-annex-v-garbage-discharges

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – IMO statement on marine plastic pollution: https://resolutions.unep.org/incres/uploads/statement_by_the_international_maritime_organization_inc-5.pdf