Garbage Record Book

Part I
(All ships)
For all garbage other than cargo residues as defined in
regulation 1.2 (Definitions)

Name of ship:

Distinctive number or letters:

IMO No.:

Period from: to:

 RECORD OF GARBAGE DISCHARGES
PART I – All ships
For all garbage other than cargo residues as defined in regulation 1.2 (Definitions)
Ship’s name: Distinctive number or letters: IMO number:

Garbage categories:
A - Plastics C - Domestic wastes E - Incinerator ash G - Animal carcasses I - E-waste
B - Food wastes D - Cooking Oil F - Operational wastes H - Fishing gear

Discharges under MARPOL Annex V:

Regulation 4 (Discharge of garbage outside special areas),
Regulation 5 (Special requirements for discharge of garbage from fixed of floating platforms) or
Regulation 6 (Discharge of garbage within special areas) or
Chapter 5 of part II-A of the Polar Code

Position of the ship Estimated amount

(latitude/longitude) or discharged Estimated Remarks: (e.g.
start/stop time and Certification
Date/ port if discharged ashore To reception amount
Category position of / signature
Time or name of ship if Into sea facilities or incinerated
3 3 incineration; general
discharged to another (m ) to another (m ) remarks)
3
ship ship (m )

Exceptional discharge or loss of garbage under regulation 7 (Exceptions)

Estimated
Port or position of the Remarks on the reason for the discharge or loss and
amount lost
Date/ ship (latitude/longitude) general remarks (e.g. reasonable precautions taken Certification
Category or
Time and water depth if to prevent or minimise such discharge or accidental / signature
discharged
known) 3 loss and general remarks)
(m )

Master’s signature: Date: Page 1 / 42

1. Introduction

In accordance with regulation 10 of Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL), a record is to be kept of each
discharge operation or completed incineration. This includes discharges into the sea, to reception facilities,
or to other ships, as well as the accidental loss of garbage.
2. Garbage and garbage management

Garbage means all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes and operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues,
ashes, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and
liable to be disposed of continuously or periodically except those substances which are defined or listed in
other Annexes to the present Convention. Garbage does not include fresh fish and parts thereof generated as a
result of fishing activities undertaken during the voyage, or as a result of aquaculture activities which involve
the transport of fish including shellfish for placement in the aquaculture facility and the transport of harvested
fish including shellfish from such facilities to shore for processing.

The Guidelines for the Implementation of Annex V of MARPOL should also be referred to for relevant
information.

3. Description of the garbage

Garbage is to be grouped into categories for the purposes of recording in parts I and II of the Garbage
Record Book (or ship's official log-book) as follows:

Part I
A. Plastics
B. Food wastes
C. Domestic wastes
D. Cooking oil
E. Incinerator ashes
F. Operational wastes
G. Animal carcasses
H. Fishing gear
I. E-waste

Part II
J. Cargo residues (non-HME)
K. Cargo residues (HME)

4. Entries in the Garbage Record Book

4.1 Entries in the Garbage Record Book shall be made on each of the following occasions:

4.1.1 When garbage is discharged to a reception facility ashore or to other ships:

.1 Date and time of discharge

.2 Port or facility, or name of ship
.3 Categories of garbage discharged
.4 Estimated amount discharged for each category in cubic metres
.5 Signature of officer in charge of the operation
 4.1.2 When garbage is incinerated:

.1 Date and time of start and stop of incineration

.2 Position of the ship (latitude and longitude) at the start and stop of incineration
.3 Categories of garbage incinerated
.4 Estimated amount incinerated in cubic metres
.5 Signature of the officer in charge of the operation

4.1.3 When garbage is discharged into the sea in accordance with regulations 4, 5 or 6 of MARPOL
Annex V or chapter 5 of part II-A of the Polar Code:

.1 Date and time of discharge

.2 Position of the ship (latitude and longitude). Note: for cargo residue discharges,
include discharge start and stop positions
.3 Category of garbage discharged
.4 Estimated amount discharged for each category in cubic metres
.5 Signature of the officer in charge of the operation

4.1.4 Accidental or other exceptional discharges or loss of garbage into the sea, including in
accordance with regulation 7 of MARPOL Annex V:

.1 Date and time of occurrence

.2 Port or position of the ship at time of occurrence (latitude, longitude and water
depth if known)
.3 Categories of garbage discharged or lost
.4 Estimated amount for each category in cubic metres
.5 The reason for the discharge or loss and general remarks

4.2 Amount of garbage

The amount of garbage on board should be estimated in cubic metres, if possible separately according
to category. The Garbage Record Book contains many references to estimated amount of garbage. It is
recognized that the accuracy of estimating amounts of garbage is left to interpretation. Volume
estimates will differ before and after processing. Some processing procedures may not allow for a
usable estimate of volume, e.g., the continuous processing of food waste. Such factors should be taken
into consideration when making and interpreting entries made in a record.
 Table 1: Summary of restrictions to the discharge of garbage into the sea under regulations 4, 5, 6
and 14 of MARPOL Annex V and chapter 5 of part II-A of the Polar Code

(Note: Table 1 is intended as a summary reference. The provisions in MARPOL Annex V and the
Polar Code, not table 1, prevail.)

4
All ships except platforms
Regulation 5
Regulation 6
Regulation 4
Offshore platforms located more than
1 Within special areas and
Garbage type Outside special areas and 12 nautical miles from nearest land
Arctic waters
Arctic waters and ships when alongside or within
(Distances are from nearest 4
(Distances are from the 500 metres of such platforms
land, ice-shelf or nearest fast
nearest land)
ice)
Food waste comminuted or ≥ 3 nautical miles, en route ≥ 12 nautical miles, en route
2 3 Discharge permitted
ground and as far as practicable and as far as practicable
Food waste not comminuted or ≥ 12 nautical miles, en route
Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
ground and as far as practicable
5,6
Cargo residues not contained Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
in washwater
≥ 12 nautical miles, en route
≥ 12 nautical miles, en route and as far as practicable
5,6
Cargo residues contained in and as far as practicable (subject to conditions in Discharge prohibited
washwater regulation 6.1.2 and
paragraph 5.2.1.5 of part II-A
of the Polar Code)
≥ 12 nautical miles, en route
6 and as far as practicable
Cleaning agents and additives (subject to conditions in
contained in cargo hold
regulation 6.1.2 and
washwater
Discharge permitted paragraph 5.2.1.5 of part II-A Discharge prohibited
of the Polar Code)
6
Cleaning agents and additives in
deck and external surfaces Discharge permitted
washwater
Must be en route and as far
Animal Carcasses (should be split
from the nearest land as
or otherwise treated to ensure
possible. Should be Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
the carcasses will sink
> 100 nautical miles and
immediately)
maximum water depth
All other garbage including
plastics, synthetic ropes, fishing
gear, plastic garbage bags,
incinerator ashes, clinkers,
Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited Discharge prohibited
cooking oil, floating dunnage,
lining and packing materials,
paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles,
crockery and similar refuse

1 When garbage is mixed with or contaminated by other harmful substances prohibited from discharge or having
different discharge requirements, the more stringent requirements shall apply.
2 Comminuted or ground food wastes must be able to pass through a screen with mesh no larger than 25 millimetres

3 The discharge of introduced avian products in the Antarctic area is not permitted unless incinerated, autoclaved or
otherwise treated to be made sterile. In polar waters, discharge shall be made as far as practicable from areas of ice
concentration exceeding 1/10; in any case food wastes shall not be discharged onto the ice.

4 Offshore platforms located 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and associated ships include all fixed or floating
platforms engaged in exploration or exploitation or associated processing of seabed mineral resources, and all ships alongside
or within
500 metres of such platforms.
5 Cargo residues means only those cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for
unloading.
6 These substances must not be harmful to the marine environment.