The European Union adopted the directive on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues in December last year. The purpose of the directive is to improve the availability and use of port reception facilities for such waste. It builds on existing international arrangements, principally MARPOL 73/78, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. While MARPOL deals with discharges at sea and with port reception facili ties, the new directive is aimed primarily at port reception facilities.
The Department has commenced work on the regulations necessary to give legal effect to the provisions of the directive. These must be made not later than December 2002.
Regulations which were introduced in 1994 to give effect to the provisions of MARPOL included measures providing for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships. Harbour authorities are obliged under these regulations to provide for the reception of garbage without causing undue delay from ships. Arrangements are in place to report allegations of inadequacy to the Department and the International Maritime Organisation.
There is no provision in the directive to make grant aid available for the provision of facilities.
