Discharges from ships in waters of The People’s Republic of China

C23028 | 21 June 2023

Notice to: Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators/ Surveyors/ Auditors

This circular is issued to advise the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China interprets the term ‘distance from the nearest land’ to mean the distance measured from baselines of the territorial sea and NOT the distance from the ship to the nearest land.

The Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China , lists the baselines of the Territorial Seas.

Additional baselines are given in the Statement of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of Diaoyu and its Affiliated Islands. 

As China is a signatory to the MARPOL Convention, regulations on discharge of oily mixtures, noxious liquid substance, sewage, and disposal of garbage are consistent with the Convention, and consequently the “distance from the nearest land” calculated using baselines, must be considered when planning such permissible discharges during a voyage.

Act now

Ship Owners, Managers, Operators, and Masters should ensure that when making discharges in compliance with MARPOL in the proximity of the People’s Republic of China, including the waters around Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands, the ‘distance from the nearest land’ is calculated using the baselines of the territorial seas, and NOT from the nearest point of land.