Marine Electronic Garbage Record Book

The last amendment to MARPOL Annex V was adopted at MEPC 70 and entered into force on 1st March 2018.

It included criteria for determining whether cargo residues are harmful to marine environment. The cargo residues not harmful to the marine environment have less strict discharge requirements.

It also included a new form of the Garbage Record Book: there are now 2 parts, the Garbage Record Book Part I for all garbage other than cargo residues and the Garbage Record Book Part II for cargo residues only applicable to ships carrying solid bulk cargo. Garbage categories have been amended to include E-Waste.

Only Cargo residues have to be registered in the Garbage Record Book and need to be divide in the category : the cargo residues harmful for the marine environment (K) and the cargo residues not harmful (J).

Ballast Record Book is covered by the Ballast water management (BWM) management and have its own requirements which are different from MARPOL.

Before being used on board, an Electronic Record Book must be approved by a Classification Society according to the relevant regulations.

Then the shipping companies can ask the Maritime Authority of their vessels to validate the use of the certified electronic record book.

Depending on the Flag State, validation can be fee-based.

Failure to comply with the MARPOL regulation during a Port State Control (PSC) and provide the associated documents can result in the ship detention by the State.

Navigation in the ice is regulated by the Polar Code.
Concerning environmental protection with MARPOL and polar navigation :
• Any discharge of oil, oily mixtures or noxious liquid substances in polar waters is strictly forbidden.
• Discharge of sewage and garbage in polar waters is only allowed if it respects the additional restrictions.
• Operation in polar waters must be noted as required by MARPOL in the relevant record books, manuals, and emergency and management plans.

Shall be registered in your Electronic Garbage Record Book the following categories of products :
• A – Plastics
• B – Food waste
• C – Domestic wastes
• D – Incinerator ashes
• F – Operational waste
• G – Animal carcasses
• H – Fishing gear
• I – E-waste
• J – Cargo residues (non-HME)
• K – Cargo residues (HME)

The disposal type of waste and garbage that must be recorded are :
• Discharge at sea
• Discharge to another ship or to reception facilities in port
• Incineration on board

In order to be certified, an Electronic Record book, also called ERB, must follow MEPC.312(74) - Guidelines on the use of electronic record books under MAPROL, which defines the requirements for ERBS.

ERBS shall be as much or more reliable than paper record books.