Waste Management Handbook for
Inshore Vessels
A resource for inshore vessel operators
Vessel Name____________________________________
_
By The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council in conjunction with Maritime New Zealand
A Guide to Managing Waste
on Board Your Vessel
Acknowledements
The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council would like to
thank those who assisted in the development of this
handbook, and in particular, Maritime New Zealand.
By The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council in conjunction with Maritime New Zealand
Copyright 2010 The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council Ltd
ISBN 978-0-473-16915-2
Contents
Page
1
Introduction
2
Chapter 1 - Garbage
3
4
5
8
Why is garbage a problem?
Garbage laws for vessels
Garbage management on fishing vessels
Good garbage management
10
Chapter 2 - Oil and oily waste
10
11
12
Why is oil a problem?
Laws about oily waste
Management of oil and oily waste on fishing vessels
14
Chapter 3 - Sewage Waste
14
15
16
Why is sewage at sea a problem?
Laws about sewage waste
Management of sewage waste on fishing vessels
18
Chapter 4 - Chemical Waste
19
19
20
Why are chemicals a problem?
Laws about chemical wastes
Management of chemical wastes
21
Waste Management Plan
Caution
The rules that apply to waste management are liable to change over time but were correct at the
time of publication (2010). It is important that operators remain current with their understanding
of their obligations under the Maritime Protection Rules. If you are unsure, please contact Maritime
New Zealand and ask.
Maritime New Zealand
Toll free: 0800 22 55 22
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.maritimenz.govt.nz
Introduction
Waste created by humans polluting the oceans is a problem that has been getting more and more
public attention in recent years.
In some places pollution from all types of ships is the major problem, especially when it comes to
garbage accumulating in our seas.The recently discovered plastic vortex of garbage many hundreds
of kilometres across floating in the North Pacific ocean shows that even small amounts of waste from
many vessels can create a very large problem that may affect the health of our oceans.
Fishing related debris is one of the few types of garbage that can be easily traced to a particular
source. This has led to a common belief that the fishing industry is mostly to blame, although the
evidence shows that most commercial fishing operators are very aware and careful with their
garbage. Nonetheless we all have a part to play in reducing the problem and it is good that fishing
operators are seen to be doing their bit to protect New Zealand’s oceans. On any typical trip there will be all kinds of waste produced on board. In addition to the rules and
regulations about how waste must be managed on vessels, there are many practical issues, such as
safety, space, time, and disposal options when you get back to shore to be addressed. It may not
always be illegal to discharge waste at sea, but it can do serious harm to the ecosystems that support
the fish that are your livelihood. It can also pose a serious threat to the safety of your own and other
vessels, not to mention lost time and money.
This handbook is a practical resource for commercial fishers that:
❍❍ Identifies the different types of waste you need to manage
❍❍ Outlines the current requirements and regulations for waste management
❍❍ Looks at practical ways to manage vessel waste
❍❍ Provides checklists and a waste management plan template for your vessel
Under each chapter there is a short description of the issues, a summary of the laws, and some ideas
for the best way to manage these wastes on your boat.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a concentration of marine debris in the central North Pacific
Ocean that is estimated to cover an area of over a million square kilometres. The Patch has
exceptionally high concentrations of suspended plastic, chemical sludge, and other debris that have
been trapped by the currents circulating in the area.
An estimated 80% of the garbage comes from land-based sources, and 20% from ships.
Pollutants range in size from abandoned fishing nets to micro-pellets used in abrasive cleaners.
1
Garbage
1. Garbage
Garbage is the everyday rubbish that is the result of your normal boating operations with the exception
of oily waste, which is discussed in Chapter 2 of this handbook. Typical garbage produced on fishing boats
might include:
€€
Food
€€
Plastic bags and wrapping materials
€€
Bottles and cans
€€
Paper and cardboard
€€
Scrap timber
€€
Bait packaging and strapping
€€
Old or damaged fishing gear including
nets, lines, buoys and sinkers
€€
Rope
€€
Rags
€€
Cigarette butts
€€
Batteries
€€
Packaging materials
Simply put, if it is something you would put in the bin at home, then it is garbage.
2
On fishing vessels, garbage does not include fresh fish or parts of fresh fish that are
left over from processing your catch.
Why is garbage a problem?
Garbage discharged at sea will generally stay in the
environment for a very long time. Glass and metal
will last hundreds of years on the seabed and may
eventually wash ashore. Anything that floats is a
serious danger for other vessels and can damage
propellers, steering gear and fishing equipment.
Many types of garbage are contaminated with toxic
substances that can result in long term contamination of the environment and fish stocks.
Of all garbage types, the biggest problem is
plastics. Plastics not only float, block water intakes,
and tangle propellers and fishing equipment, but
they will hang around for generations to come. A
plastic drink bottle may last up to 500 years.
As plastic weathers, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, covering a huge area of the sea
surface and washing ashore. The small pieces of plastic are easily mistaken for food by fish, birds,
turtles and, when they break down into small enough pieces, even plankton may feed on them. In the
process, the toxins that are part of the plastic get taken up into the food chain. In other parts of the
world fish are becoming seriously contaminated by plastic pollution. Plastic ingestion is a major cause of
death for seabird chicks. The adults collect plastic at sea and take it back to the nest in place of real
food. Birds and marine mammals can become tangled in plastic and discarded fishing nets and line.
Treat anything that has plastic in it, even if it is only
a small part of it, as plastic when you are deciding how
to dispose of it. This includes fishing line and nets,
rope, synthetic materials, cigarette filters and
packaging products that are coated with plastic.
In summary, garbage discharged at sea can affect
the health and safety, and future sustainability
of fisheries and the marine environment. The best
option is to return all garbage to land where it can
be safely disposed of safely.
3
Garbage laws for vessels
The management of garbage on boats is regulated by the International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships and its Protocol, known as MARPOL. Annex V of MARPOL contains the
international regulations on garbage from ships, and most of these regulations apply to all ships. In
New Zealand the MARPOL regulations are enforced under the Resource Management (Marine
Pollution) Regulations, the Maritime Transport Act, 1994 and the marine protection rules Part 170.
Here is a summary of the current rules:
e Plastics may not be discharged into the ocean anywhere at any time. This includes items that have
any plastic component and also synthetic fishing gear.
e No garbage of any sort may be discharged at sea within 3 nautical miles from the nearest land or in the Antarctic area below 60 degrees south.
e Between 3 and 12 nautical miles from land garbage must be ground up to the size of pieces that would fit through a 25mm screen in order to be discharged. Any bigger and it must be retained.
e Outside 12 nautical miles it is permitted to dump food, paper products, rags (as long as they are non-synthetic and not contaminated with oil or chemicals), glass, metal and similar items.
e Do consider if discharging these garbage items is a good idea, even though it is ‘allowed’.
e Garbage that is likely to float such as wood may only be discharged more than 25 nautical miles from land.
All vessels over 12 metres must have signs on
board that explain the garbage laws. Large
vessels over 400 gross tonnes are required
by law to have a garbage management plan on
board and keep a garbage record book.
There are substantial penalties for
discharging garbage in areas where the
rules do not permit it. Ultimately it is
the skipper’s responsibility to make sure
garbage doesn’t go over the side and all
on board understand the rules.
4
Garbage management on fishing vessels
Fishing operators have reported a range of challenges to managing garbage on board, for example:
❍❍ Space on the boat is limited.
❍❍ It takes time to manage garbage.
❍❍ The waste facilities back at shore are limited in some locations, meaning you may have to take
garbage elsewhere for disposal.
❍❍ Items are lost accidentally over the side in rough weather.
Many operators have come up with simple ways to effectively and easily manage their garbage. This
handbook includes some of their solutions.
Smaller vessels are not currently required by law to have a garbage management plan . But a plan is a
useful tool for working out how garbage will be managed and making sure everyone is aware of the
practices on board.
A template for is provided at the back of this handbook so that you can make your own plan for
dealing with garbage on board your boat.
A garbage management plan will include information on:
❍❍ Reducing garbage before you sail.
❍❍ Collecting and storing garbage.
❍❍ Processing of garbage (such as compaction, grinding or incineration).
❍❍ Procedures for using any equipment such as incinerators or grinders.
❍❍ Discharge of garbage ashore.
❍❍ Who is in charge of managing garbage and making the plan work.
Everyone on board should be familiar with the plan and understand that they have a responsibility to
make it work. If one person decides it is easier to throw a scrap of rope or a cigarette butt over the
side than put it in the bin then the plan is not working.
Below we have provided some ideas that are
working for other people. These suggestions can
be adapted to suit your own boat and fishing
methods.
Reduce garbage before you sail
How much garbage can you get rid of before you
leave port? Try removing all excess packaging
before you leave on the trip. It will save time
when you are at sea or when you get back to port,
and it will reduce the garbage you have to deal
with at sea.
5
By planning your supplies and leaving as much of the waste behind as possible, you can reduce your
garbage for the trip by up to 10 times. Avoid taking plastic bags on board, reusable shopping bags
hold more, are more easily carried and are much stronger.
Plastic bags are the single most common type of garbage seen at sea and are very easily lost over the
side in wind or heavy seas.
Buying stores with less packaging or removing packaging before you sail will reduce the amount of garbage that you have to deal with on the boat.
Collect and safely store garbage
Be tidy. Any rubbish left on the deck is in
danger of being washed overboard before it can
be picked up. Rope ends, pieces of plastic,
cigarette butts, and other small items can
disappear out the scuppers the first time water
runs across the decks. The way to prevent this
is to be tidy and not leave any garbage on the
decks. Small items like rope ends can be put into
pockets or buckets as you collect them. Larger
items like bags and pieces of netting need to go
straight into a strong sack or container.
You might not be able to avoid dropping things
on deck, such as during a net repair, but you can
quickly clean them up before the next job is
started.
Storage space can be a problem, especially on smaller boats. Many people store their garbage
somewhere on the deck, but it can be easily lost overboard in heavy seas. If the storage container is
6
not solid there is a risk of it being damaged and
garbage being spread around the deck – a safety
risk to crew as well as risking it going overboard.
Garbage stored in the wheelhouse or the holds
is more secure. But the garbage container needs
to be easy to access as well or it won’t be used.
It may be possible to move the garbage inside
when you are underway.
Plastic bags may be convenient for storing waste
but they are easily damaged and split. If they
blow or wash over the side, the bag itself is a
serious risk to vessels and marine life. Putting
garbage into a strong container like a plastic
garbage bin, a fish bin with a lid or a sack is a
better option. Using bags inside the bin will make
it easier to empty back at port. Plastic bags by
themselves should not be left on the deck or tied
to the rails.
Process garbage if you can
Larger vessels with incinerators, grinders or compactors can process garbage aboard. Your
garbage plan should detail how to use this safely and efficiently. Remember that garbage that has
not been ground up to 25mm or smaller may not be discharged anywhere within 12 nautical miles from
land. If you don’t fish further out than that and don’t have a grinder, you will need to return your
garbage ashore.
Crushing cardboard, cans and plastic bottles by hand will greatly reduce the space you need for garbage storage. Choose stores in containers that can be easily crushed, for example buy juice in cardboard packs rather than plastic or glass bottles. Bulky items such as nets can be tightly bundled up
and tied to reduce the amount of space they take up .
Discharge of garbage ashore
Most ports and marinas have skips or bins for disposing of garbage once you get back to shore. These
may have limited space so it will help to have your garbage as compact as possible. Disposal facilities
at public boat ramps or smaller marinas are often far more limited. You may need to take garbage to
another site for disposal. Having garbage in strong, secure containers will make this task much easier.
Even at ports the skip may not be close to where you berth the vessel, so it will help having strong,
easily transported garbage containers. If you have to use kerbside garbage services, you can save
time by putting garbage directly into a council garbage bag inside the bin or sack when on board to
save repacking it later.
Commercial ports in New Zealand have a legal obligation to provide adequate garbage
reception facilities to allow international vessels to operate without delays. If you
find that a port does not have suitable facilities you should notify the problem to the
port, the local council or Maritime New Zealand.
7
Responsible people
The skipper can’t have his eye on the crew all
the time, so it is up to everyone to follow the
plan and ensure garbage ends up in the right
place.
The skipper does have a responsibility to ensure
everyone on board understands the garbage
rules, what the onboard management systems
are, and drive correct practices among the crew.
The success of your garbage plan requires each
crew member to contribute, even if it is just
thinking about how you pack for the trip.
Good garbage management
To summarise, here are some good tips to manage garbage:
e Have a plan. Know how you will manage garbage and make sure everyone on board understands
their responsibilities.
e Reduce waste before you sail. Remove extra packaging and plastic. Buy stores with less
packaging, eg drink in cartons rather than glass bottles. Leave plastic bags at home.
e Use a strong container for storing waste. Sealed fish bins or strong rubbish containers are
less likely to be damaged and spill than plastic bags.
e Keep all garbage in secure locations on the boat.
e Be tidy. All rubbish should go straight into the storage container. Don’t leave anything on
deck - it may get washed overboard.
e Create a culture of awareness and good practice. Even tiny items like cigarette butts and
bottle tops will float around for years to come. If it gets dropped, it gets binned as soon as possible.
e Work as a team.
It is up to every person on board to be responsible for garbage management.
8
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9
Oil & Oily Waste
Diary
2. Oil and oily waste
It is inevitable that oily waste is produced on vessels. This may be due to minor leaks from engines and
machinery that contaminate the deck or bilge spaces, spills during fuelling or maintenance work and waste
from oil changes.
Oil and oily waste must not be discarded at sea. Oil includes all types of fuel including
petrol, diesel and fuel oils, and all lubricating oils. Anything that is contaminated with oil,
such as rags, paper and sorbents should be treated as oily waste.
Why is oil a problem?
Most forms of oil are toxic to marine species. The
effects can vary from rapid death to impact on future
spawning success. Even very low concentrations of oil
that may not cause death can lead to negative effects
for fish and shellfish.
Different types of oil behave very differently when
spilled at sea, and the density and viscosity (ability to
flow) of the oil affect how it will break down. Light oils
such as diesel and petrol may break up fairly rapidly
through evaporation and wave action, but they are
particularly toxic to marine life and can penetrate
deep into sediments.
Heavier oils can persist for months, years or even
decades, particularly where they have been buried in
sand or mud.
10
Heavy oils are less toxic in the short term, but can cause long-term impacts on spawning success or the
survival and growth of juvenile fish and shellfish. In areas where there is cold water or limited wave action,
oil will break down far more slowly than in warmer, open ocean regions.
Laws about oily waste
The management of oil and oily waste from boats is regulated by MARPOL. Annex I of MARPOL contains
the international regulations on oil from ships, and many of these regulations apply to all vessels. In New
Zealand the MARPOL regulations are enforced under the Resource Management (Marine Pollution)
Regulations and the Maritime Transport Act.
There are several marine protection rules that relate to the management and discharge of oil on vessels,
although some of the rules only apply to larger vessels of 400 gross tonnes or more. Below is a summary of
the current rules relevant to fishing vessels.
Rules for all vessels:
11
€€
Oil or oil-contaminated solid waste (rags etc) must never be discharged anywhere at sea.
€€
Oily water can only be discharged more than 12 miles from shore while the vessel is under way.
€€
Any oily water must have been treated so that the oil content of the water is no more than 15 parts per million. At this concentration there should be no visible oil in the water.
€€
Oily water with an oil content higher than 15 parts per million must be held on board and
discharged to shore. In this case the vessel needs enough space to store the waste.
€€
Because of the risk of an oil spill, any damage or breakdown of a vessel longer than 15 metres that affects the safety of the ship or affects your ability to navigate must be reported to Maritime New Zealand (Phone 0508 472 269 or contact Taupo Maritime Radio).
€€
Any spill of oil in New Zealand marine waters out to 200 nautical miles, or from any New Zealand registered ship no matter where the spill occurs, must be reported immediately to the local Regional Council or to Maritime New Zealand (Phone 0508 472 269 or contact Taupo Maritime Radio). You must make a report even if it is just suspected that a spill has occurred.
Management of oil and oily waste on fishing vessels
Most oil spills from fishing vessels will happen during refuelling or oil changes to equipment. Oil
leaks from machinery and equipment can also be a problem. It is easy to splash or overflow tanks when
refuelling. Many operators have developed practices to avoid refuelling spills, for example:
Refuelling
e Always have someone supervising refuelling
and be ready to stop the flow of fuel
immediately if there is any sign of a spill or
overflow.
e Figure out how much fuel is in the tanks
before you start filling, start pumping slowly when there is a chance of airlocks, and slow down again when you get close to the top of the tank. Stop before the tank overflows.
e When filling portable tanks, fill these on land and then place them in the boat.
e Place sorbent materials or rags around the
filling cap or under equipment during refuelling. These will catch and soak up any splashes or small overflows and can be dried and reused.
e Close scuppers or block them with sorbent material during refuelling if there is any risk of fuel overflowing onto the deck.
e Have some basic equipment on board for cleaning up spills on deck. Make sure everyone on board knows where it is and how to use it. A few sorbent pads will go a long way. Sorbents work much better than rags and can be reused.
e When using fuel pumps at ports and marinas make sure you know the location of the
emergency spill kit near the pump and be ready to use it if you need to mop up a spill.
Sorbent pads placed on the water surface
will quickly absorb light fuels and then can be picked up and safely disposed of or dried and reused.
12
Leaks
Another common source of oily waste is leaks from engines and machinery. These may occur into the
bilge or onto the deck. Oily bilge water or deck water must not be discharged overboard unless it can
be treated to less than 15 parts per million and you are under way.
If you can’t measure the parts per million, water that contains any oil must be retained on board. So
in most cases this waste will have to be returned to land unless the safety of the boat is threatened.
Here are some good tips for managing oily waste:
e Keep all equipment and machinery in good order and fix any oil leaks promptly.
e Watch out for excessive oil use that may indicate a leak and track it down. Remember that leaks from propeller shafts or below the waterline may be hard to spot.
e If there is a leak that cannot be fixed while you are at sea put a drip tray or sorbent material under or around the area to catch the oil. Be careful that there is no risk of trays or
material blocking scuppers or pumps. It may be possible to safely tie sorbent material around the leaking part.
e Make sure that you have an option for storing oily bilge water so it can be brought ashore.
e Do not wash any oil straight off the decks into the sea. Clean up the oil first before washing decks or water from landing your catch washes it overboard.
13
3. Sewage waste
Sewage Waste
This month
Sewage waste (blackwater) must be managed effectively on board for the safety of your crew and to
protect the environment. This is particularly important on fishing vessels as they gather seafood for
human consumption. There are a wide range of systems used to process sewage on board fishing ships,
ranging from buckets to installed sewage treatment systems. Water from showers and the galley
(grey water) can also pollute the environment if it contains oil, grease, soaps or detergents.
Why is sewage at sea a problem?
Sewage contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. When untreated sewage is discharged into
the sea, there is a risk of other people being exposed to the pathogens through contact or swallowing
contaminated water.
More commonly, people catch sewage-related illness when they eat shellfish that has filtered
pathogens from the water while feeding. Mussels, oysters and scallops all concentrate pathogens by
filter-feeding. New Zealand has water quality monitoring in place to detect evidence of sewage
contamination. The seafood industry pays a high cost if shellfish harvest areas are closed due to
contamination.
Sewage discharges also add nutrients to the sea. In areas where there is slow water exchange or
limited dilution this can lead to high levels of algal growth and reduce the oxygen content of the
water, affecting the health and productivity of the ecosystem.
14
Sometimes the disinfectants used to treat sewage in holding tanks, such as chlorine, can delay the
breakdown of sewage. These disinfectants are usually more toxic to marine organisms than the untreated
waste. For this reason, care should be taken to ensure that the correct disinfectant doses are used and
that excess disinfectant is neutralised before it is discharged.
Maritime sewage discharges in New Zealand are regulated by the Resource Management (Marine Pollution)
Regulations. Three grades of sewage are recognised in the regulations, from untreated sewage to Grade
A treated sewage. The higher the level of treatment the more options you have about where to discharge
sewage, as treatment reduces the risk to the environment and other coastal users.
Rules for sewage waste
€€
Untreated sewage must be discharged more than 500 metres from shore, a mataitai reserve or marine farm, more than 200 metres from a marine reserve, and in water more than 5 metres deep
€€
Grade B treated sewage can be discharged anywhere except: within 500 metres of a marine farm or mataitai reserve, or within 200 metres of a marine reserve
€€
Grade A treated sewage can be discharged anywhere except: within 100 metres of a marine farm and 200 metres of a marine reserve
€€
You should also check Regional Coastal Plans for the areas where you operate as these may contain rules that specifically prohibit sewage discharge in some areas. In some regions no discharges are allowed in the more sheltered and enclosed bays and harbours.
€€
Maritime Rule 40D also contains rules about the need to provide toilet facilities for crew.
The Grade A treatment process involves aerating the
sewage to create activated sludge, where
bacterial action quickly breaks down the waste. This
approach is similar to the process in septic tanks and
is commonly seen on large ships. Grade B treatment
involves breaking down the sewage, followed by a
disinfection stage, and is more common on smaller
craft.
Approved Grade A and B treatment systems are
listed in Schedule 5 and 7 of the Regulations, but
these lists do not include all of the treatment
systems currently available. If in doubt about
whether your system complies contact your local
Regional Council or Maritime New Zealand.
15
Management of sewage waste
In practice, most fishing vessels in New Zealand discharge untreated sewage into the sea either
directly from the head or from a holding tank. There are some measures that can be taken to reduce
the impact of sewage discharges on the environment. They are:
e Never discharge sewage near shellfish beds or marine farms.
e Sewage should at least be ground up before discharge as it will break down in seawater more quickly due to the natural bacteria. Often the pumps used to send sewage into holding tanks or
overboard will help to break it up.
e Holding tanks are not legally required but they will allow you to operate in all inshore marine areas
while providing crew with continued access to the toilet. Holding tanks will also future-proof your vessels from more stringent regulations that may come into force in the future.
e Urine is highly corrosive so plastic or fibreglass holding tanks will need less maintenance than steel tanks.
e Holding tanks should have a deck valve so that sewage can be pumped ashore if needed.
e The key to reducing smells from holding tanks and pipework is keeping the sewage from settling and ensuring good air flow, so the more venting and air exchange the better. When there is not enough air flow anaerobic bacteria will grow and release sulphur dioxide, which smells of rotten eggs and can be poisonous in confined spaces.
e Tipping bleach down the toilet is a short term solution to controlling smell, but can often make
the problem worse in the long run by killing the helpful aerobic bacteria in holding tanks.
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4. Chemical waste
There are times when you need to dispose of chemical products, such as paint, cleaning and maintenance
wastes.
Often these will be in fairly small quantities and it will be easy to return them to shore for disposal.
In this case they can just be treated as garbage and stored somewhere secure on the boat. It is very
important that any chemical wastes are clearly labelled if they are not in their original packaging.
Chemical Waste
Chemical Waste
Cleaning and maintenance
18
Why are chemicals a problem?
Chemical wastes are a health and safety risk for
people on board the boat. Corrosive chemicals can
damage the vessel or fishing gear. As well as the risk
to the safety and health of people on board, many
chemicals are toxic to marine life (these are known
as marine pollutants). Even if the animal does not die
from the exposure, the chemicals can contaminate
the flesh of fish or shellfish.
Chemicals spilled into the sea can hang around for a
long time, and chemical containers that are dumped
may be fished up again. By then the label may have
been lost and someone is left with the problem of a
potentially dangerous substance but no idea what they
are dealing with.
Laws about chemical waste
As a general rule, chemical wastes should never be discharged overboard and under the Maritime
Transport Act it is illegal to discharge any marine pollutants overboard anywhere in New Zealand
marine waters out to 200 miles or from a New Zealand registered ship no matter where it is.
Furthermore, under the Marine Pollution Regulations it is not permitted to discharge waste chemical
substances of any kind within 12 nautical miles from land.
19
Management of chemical wastes
A variety of chemicals may be used on your vessel. Some may be quite dangerously corrosive so it is
important the any residues or spills are dealt with quickly.
Good practice for managing chemical waste includes:
e Remove any unnecessary chemicals from your vessel.
e Ensure chemicals are stored in appropriate
strong containers that are clearly and permanently labelled.
e Make sure everyone on board knows
how to handle chemical spills safely and
appropriately.
e Have some basic equipment on board for
cleaning up chemical spills and make sure
everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
e Check regularly that chemical containers are strong and secure and are not leaking.
e Do not wash any chemical spill off the decks into the sea unless there is no other way to safely deal with them.
e Unless it is essential to protect the safety of people on board or for the safety of the vessel, chemicals should never be discharged at sea.
Some notes on crew safety:
❍❍ If you are taking chemicals on board make sure they are in properly labelled
containers and you know the correct first aid measures and handling methods for
the product.
❍❍ For information on chemicals where there is a risk of someone coming into contact
with, inhaling or swallowing the substance, there is a 24-hour hotline number run
by the Poison Information Service (0800 POISON or 0800 764766) that can be
called directly (or via Taupo Maritime Radio) for advice.
❍❍ When handling chemicals or cleaning up spills always use the right personal
protective equipment such as boots, gloves and glasses.
❍❍ If chemicals splash onto your skin or into your eyes then you should take
immediate first aid measures. Don’t wait!
❍❍ Chemical wastes should never be mixed together as they may react in unexpected
20
Waste Management Plan
__________________________________
(Name of Vessel)
This plan details how all operational wastes will be managed on board. All crew are to be
familiar with the plan and understand their role in making it work.
Part 1 - Crew Education
1.1 All new crew will be required to read the waste management handbook. They will be given a copy of this plan
and briefed on the legal requirements and waste management practices on board.
1.2 At the start of every voyage all crew will be reminded that NO plastics or oil may be discharged at any time
and that all efforts should be made to prevent accidental discharge of garbage and other wastes while at sea.
1.3 A copy of this plan will be available on the vessel at all times.
Part 2 - Garbage
2.1 All garbage on the boat will be stored in ___________________________________________
(container type)
2.2 Garbage containers will be secured by ____________________________________________
Details of means of securing (e.g. fitted lids, lashing) and location ( e.g. wheelhouse)
2.3 All garbage, no matter how small, will be immediately picked up and put in the rubbish container or otherwise secured to prevent loss overboard.
2.4 Every person on board is responsible for ensuring that no garbage goes overboard during the voyage. If you
see a problem, don’t wait for someone else to fix it.
Part 3 - Chemicals
3.1 Chemicals will be stored in their orginal containers wherever possible.
3.2 If chemicals are put in other containers they will be clearly labelled permenantly with the full name and
chemical identification number.
3.3 A Material Safety Data Sheet will be kept on board for all dangerous chemicals.
3.4 Personal Protective Equipment will be kept on board and everyone will use it when handling dangerous
chemicals.
3.5 All spills of chemicals on board will be reported immediately to the Skipper.
3.6 If it is safe, chemicals spilled on deck will be cleaned up before the deck is washed.
3.7 Any chemical wastes will be stored separately, not mixed, and clearly labelled.
Part 4 - Oil and Oily Wastes
4.1 If any spills into the sea or a spill is suspected crew will immediately notify the Skipper.
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4.2 All oil spills or suspected oil spills will be reported immediately to ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(e.g. Regional Council/Maritime NZ/Taupo Marine Radio)
by the way of ________________________________________________________________
(e.g. radio, cell/phone and relevant contact numbers and channels)
4.3 When refuelling the following measures will be taken to prevent fuel spills:
e Check tank levels and continuous observation during refuelling.
e Agree a plan for how to immediately stop refuelling if a spill occurs.
e Block all scuppers with sorbent material prior to refuelling on board.
e Use a sorbent refuelling pad around the tank inlet.
e Sorbent material to quickly clean up any spills before deck washing.
e There are emergency spill kits available at ________________________________________
e Other meaures____________________________________________________________
e Other measures___________________________________________________________
4.4 Any oil rags or oily wastes will be stored securely and taken inshore. NO oily waste is to go overboard at
any time.
4.5 Crew will report any oil leaks from machinery to the Skipper immediately and take steps to stop the oil
from the leak going overboard.
4.6 Wherever possible oil leaks from machinery will be fixed immediately.
4.7 Any oil on the decks wil be cleaned up before the decks are washed or catch is landed.
Part 5 - Sewage
5.1 Untreated sewage will not be discharged closer than 500 metres from shore, a mataitai reserve or marnie
farm, or closer than 200 metres from a marine reserve.
5.2 The vents to the sewage holding tank (if fitted) will be kept open during the voyage.
5.3 Bleach and other chemicals will not be put into the toilet except for very small quantities for cleaning
purposes only.
If you have any question about any part of the Waste Management Plan then ASK.
Remember that it is up to everyone on board to make our Waste Management Plan work.
Do your bit protect the oceans for us and our children.
___________________________
(Skipper)
___________________________
(Crew)
___________________________
(Crew)
__________
(Date)
__________
(Date)
__________
(Date)
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Notes....
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www.seafood.co.nz