USCG Issued MSIB 03/2024 in line with amendments to annex V of Marpol by MEPC. These amendments will enter into force from 01st May 2024.
This Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) serves to notify the maritime industry of the revised
applicability criteria to maintain a garbage record book (GRB). These changes are a result of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adoption of amendments to MARPOL Annex V Regulation 10 – Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record-keeping.
As of May 1, 2024, the effective date of amendments to MARPOL Annex V adopted in MEPC.360(79),
the following are required by Annex V to carry and make entries in a garbage record book (or a logbook,
if the vessel is less than 100 GT):
- all ships of 100 gross tons and above engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under
the jurisdiction of another Party to Annex V; - all ships which are certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in voyages to ports or offshore
terminals under the jurisdiction of another Party to Annex V; and - all fixed or floating platforms.
The United States is party to MARPOL Annex V (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by
Garbage from Ships), which includes garbage recordkeeping requirements. The U.S. implements the
MARPOL Protocol, as defined in 33 U.S.C. 1901(a)(4), through the Act to Prevent Pollution from
Ships (APPS). (See 33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) The U.S. has accepted the Annex V amendments in
MEPC.360(79), as provided in APPS. APPS makes Annex V applicable to U.S. flagged ships, as well
as to ships other than U.S. flagged ships, while in the navigable waters of the U.S. and while in the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). (See 33 U.S.C. 1902.) By operation of law, the amendments will
supersede any existing Coast Guard regulations which are inconsistent with the amendments.
Resolution MEPC.360(79), which sets out the GRB amendment language, is available to the public at
MEPC 360 79 (imo.org).
Source: USCG