Vol. 396 No. 9
84 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Marine the present situation concerning the dumping of refuse from ships and other vessels into the sea; whether he proposes to take any action on this matter; whether he will consider banning ships from docking unless they have refuse to be disposed of on-shore; the number of shore-based rubbish skips which are provided for the dumping of waste from ships at our ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In fishing harbours facilities for waste are provided at the five fishery harbour centres as a matter of course. In commercial ports waste disposal is generally by arrangement with ships' agents or the harbour authorities. The Sea Pollution Bill, which I hope to circulate shortly, will require the provision of facilities for the disposal of ships' oil and waste in accordance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. This convention is better known as MARPOL 73/78. The Bill will bring about an overall improvement in the provision of facilities and in the inspection and standard of ships' equipment and will reduce considerably the incidence of dumping refuse at sea.
In the meantime and pending the enactment of the relevant legislation my Department are arranging with harbour authorities for the provision of suitable reception facilities for ships' garbage at ports.
