The Ghana
Maritime Authority (GMA) has imposed a number of fines in Takoradi related to
pollution from discharged wastewaters in the past few months, marine insurer
West of England said.
Maritime Authority (GMA) has imposed a number of fines in Takoradi related to
pollution from discharged wastewaters in the past few months, marine insurer
West of England said.
In all cases, such discharges were from the International Maritime
Organization-approved sewage treatment systems.
Organization-approved sewage treatment systems.
These systems are, under MARPOL Annex IV Regulation 11.1.2,
required to discharge effluent with no visible floating solids, without causing
discoloration of the surrounding water.
required to discharge effluent with no visible floating solids, without causing
discoloration of the surrounding water.
However, when the GMA surveyor took samples of the effluent
discharge, this was found to be discolored under visual examination.
Consequently, vessels were fined accordingly.
discharge, this was found to be discolored under visual examination.
Consequently, vessels were fined accordingly.
The fines have been in the region of USD 40,000.
As informed by West of England, masters had been unaware that the
onboard treatment system was not producing clean effluent.
onboard treatment system was not producing clean effluent.
Therefore, the marine insurer has advised its members to ensure
that sewage treatment plants are operating as designed, with clear effluent
discharge, prior to arrival in Ghana.
that sewage treatment plants are operating as designed, with clear effluent
discharge, prior to arrival in Ghana.
If onboard systems allow, vessels may also consider retaining
sewage plant discharge effluent onboard when they are within Ghanaian
territorial waters.
sewage plant discharge effluent onboard when they are within Ghanaian
territorial waters.
World Maritime News
