Description

Disposal of waste from harbour activities or by ships in harbour

Key locations

All harbours and ports within Berwickshire and Northumberland

Frequency of Activity

Waste is continuously generated and disposed of

Potential issues

• Littering
• Toxic and non-toxic contamination
• Introduction of diseases and pathogens

Features of Marine Protected Areas which might be affected

• Reefs
• Sea caves
• Sand and mud flats
• Inlets and bays
• Grey seal
• Birds (wintering and breeding)

Organisations with management powers for this activity 

Organisation  Description of powers or responsibilities 
Harbour and Port Authorities 
  • Provision of waste reception facilities 
  • Production of Harbour Waste Management Plans 
Maritime & Coastguard Agency 
  • Approval of Harbour Waste Management Plans 

 

Relevant Legislation (England)

A number of legal powers, duties or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:

Legal Powers or Duties  Legislation Lead Organisation
Requirement  for harbours to provide waste reception facilities The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations 2003 MCA
Requirement for ships to deliver their waste to a port reception facility The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 MCA

Relevant Guidance, Plans or Codes (England)

The following guidance, codes, plans or strategies are also relevant to the management of this activity:

Name Description Responsible Organisation Statutory or Non-Statutory?
Marine Guidance Note  563 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 and amendments MCA Non-Statutory

Relevant Legislation (Scotland)

A number of legal powers, duties or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:

Legal Powers or Duties Legislation Lead Organisation
Requirement for harbours to provide waste reception facilities The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations 2003 MCA
Requirement for ships to deliver their waste to a port reception facility The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 MCA

Relevant Guidance, Plans or Codes (Scotland)

The following guidance, codes, plans or strategies are also relevant to the management of this activity:

Name Description Responsible Organisation Statutory or Non-Statutory?
Marine Guidance Note  563 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping and Fishing

Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 and amendments

Marine Guidance Note  563 (M+F) Guidance on the Merchant Shipping and Fishing

Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 and amendments

Details of Current Management (England)

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations 2003 as amended are applicable to any harbour or terminal within the UK. Every harbour authority and terminal operator is required by the Regulations to provide waste reception facilities adequate to meet the needs of ships normally using the harbour or terminal in question, without causing undue delay to ships. The MCA has produced a guidance note on this which can be downloaded at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/608427/MGN_563_rev_1.pdf

Port waste management is regulated by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003, which includes requirements for vessels to:

• notify the port before arrival of waste onboard and the amounts to be offloaded
• offload all ship-generated wastes to port/terminal reception facilities, unless they have notified that they will be retaining wastes on board
• pay for the use of waste discharge facilities

In turn, harbour and terminal operators must provide adequate waste reception facilities, and must have in place a port waste management plan.

Recreational craft authorised to carry, or designed to carry no more than 12 passengers and fishing vessels must deliver their waste (other than sewage) to port reception facilities but are exempted from the requirement to notify before entry into port and the requirement to pay a mandatory charge.

Smaller vessels not governed by this regime are expected to dispose of their waste in an environmentally sound manner.

Vessels must make sure that waste from exhaust gas cleaning systems equipment is handled carefully and not discharged into ports, harbours or estuaries unless it is thoroughly documented that the waste streams will have no adverse impact on its ecosystem.

Harbour waste management plans are produced for Berwick, North Sunderland, Warkworth and Blyth and are sent to the MCA every three years for approval.

Details of Current Management (Scotland)

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations 2003 as amended are applicable to any harbour or terminal within the UK. Every harbour authority and terminal operator is required by the Regulations to provide waste reception facilities adequate to meet the needs of ships normally using the harbour or terminal in question, without causing undue delay to ships. The MCA has produced a guidance note on this which can be downloaded at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/608427/MGN_563_rev_1.pdf

Port waste management is regulated by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003, which includes requirements for vessels to:

• notify the port before arrival of waste onboard and the amounts to be offloaded
• offload all ship-generated wastes to port/terminal reception facilities, unless they have notified that they will be retaining wastes on board
• pay for the use of waste discharge facilities

In turn, harbour and terminal operators must provide adequate waste reception facilities, and must have in place a port waste management plan.

Recreational craft authorised to carry, or designed to carry no more than 12 passengers and fishing vessels must deliver their waste (other than sewage) to port reception facilities but are exempted from the requirement to notify before entry into port and the requirement to pay a mandatory charge.

Smaller vessels not governed by this regime are expected to dispose of their waste in an environmentally sound manner.

Vessels must make sure that waste from exhaust gas cleaning systems equipment is handled carefully and not discharged into ports, harbours or estuaries unless it is thoroughly documented that the waste streams will have no adverse impact on its ecosystem.

A harbour waste management plans is produced for Eyemouth sent to the MCA every three years for approval.

Gaps in Management (England)

Smaller harbours are not large enough to require waste management plans, Not all harbours are able to supply recycling facilities

Gaps in Management (Scotland)

Smaller harbours are not large enough to require waste management plans. Not all harbours are able to supply recycling facilities