HomeCalculatorsMARPOL Annex V - Garbage Discharge Distance Lookup

MARPOL Annex V - Garbage Discharge Distance Lookup

Minimum distance from nearest land permitted for garbage discharge by garbage category and area.

MARPOLAnnex VGarbageDischarge
Discharge permitted?
Yes - in transit
Minimum distance
12nautical miles
Formula, assumptions, and limits

MARPOL Annex V Regulation 4 (general areas) and Regulation 6 (special areas) discharge provisions. Plastics: discharge prohibited globally. Food wastes: 12 nm from nearest land general areas (3 nm if comminuted), prohibited in special areas at less than 12 nm. Cargo residues with HME: prohibited in special areas. Operational waste: prohibited under most circumstances. The lookup returns the minimum distance, with discharge always also requiring the ship to be in transit at moderate speed.

Symbol legend

SymbolMeaningUnitSource
Minimum distance from nearest landnautical milescomputed