1. MARPOL, Revised Annex IV Prevention of Pollution by sewage
Entry into force 27 september 2003

2. Why a revised Annex IV
ANNEXES I (OIL POLLUTION) AND II (NLS) MANDATORY
ANNEXES III (HARMFULL PACKAGED GOODS), IV (SEWAGE) AND V (GARBAGE) OPTIONAL
ANNEX IV AS INITIALLY DRAFTED CONSIDERED AS BEING TOO SEVERE

3. What is sewage ? DRAINAGE TOILETS AND URINALS,
DRAINAGE FROM MEDICAL PREMISES,
DRAINAGE FROM SPACES CONTAINING LIVING ANIMALS,
OTHER WASTE WATERS WHEN MIXED WITH THE DRAINAGES DEFINED ABOVE.

4. Which ships are failling under the scope of the revised Annex IV ?
NEW SHIPS :
400 GT AND ABOVE AND
LESS THAN 400 GT CARRYING MORE THAN 15 PERSONS, AS FROM 27 SEPTEMBER 2003.
EXISTING SHIPS :
LESS THAN 400 GT CARRYING MORE THAN 15 PERSONS, AS FROM 27 SEPTEMBER 2008

5. Sewage systems and standard discharge connections
A SHIP SHALL BE EQUIPED WITH ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS :
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SEWAGE COMMINUTING AND DISINFECTING SYSTEM
HOLDING TANK
AND A STANDARD DISCHARGE CONNECTION

6. Where may sewage be discharged ?
EFFLUENT FROM SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT :
EVERYWHERE
COMMINUTED AND DISINFECTED SEWAGE :
NOT LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM NEAREST LAND
UNTREATED SEWAGE :
NOT LESS THAN 12 MILES FROM NEAREST LAND, EN ROUTE, SUBJECT TO RATE OF DISCHARGE APPROVAL

7. Certificate scheme APPROVAL OF DRAWINGS SURVEY REGIME :
INITIAL AND RENEWAL SURVEYS
CERTIFICATE (ISPPC):
5 YEARS VALIDITY, IN LINE WITH CLASSIFICATION AND OTHER STATUTORY CERTIFICATES (HSC)

8. ASMS Items and Certificate editor
SURVEY CODES : SEWS, SEWO
ITEMS COTE : SEW
INTERNATIONAL SEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE (1973)
INTERNATIONAL SEWAGE POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE (FULL AND SHORT TERM)
DOCUMENT OF COMPLIANCE