MARPOL Annexes I & V – Special Areas – Red Sea & Gulf of Aden

C24056 | 04 November 2024

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators / Surveyors

This Circular is issued to advise that under IMO Resolutions MEPC.381(80) and MEPC.382(80), new restrictions will apply from 01 January 2025 concerning the discharge of garbage, oil, and oily mixtures in the Special Areas of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Key points:

From 1 January 2025, the following requirements shall apply:

MEPC.381(80) – Regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I:

All ships:

On or after 1 January 2025, any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from ships of 400 gross tonnage and above shall be prohibited within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Special Areas, except when all the following conditions are met:

1. The ship is proceeding en route;
2. The oily mixture is processed through an oil filtering equipment (Oily Water Separator) meeting the requirements of regulation 14.7 of Annex I;
3. The oil content of the effluent without dilution does not exceed 15 parts per million (Oil Content Meter).

Oil tankers:

Any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from the cargo area is already prohibited in Special Areas, even with the ship en route and the effluent processed through the ODME. On or after 1 Jan 2025, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden will be included in Special Areas.

MEPC.382(80) – Regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V:

On or after 1 January 2025, discharge of garbage into the sea within the Red Sea Special Area shall only be permitted while the ship is en route and as prescribed by Regulation 6 (Discharge of garbage within special areas) of MARPOL Annex V.

Act now

Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors should ensure that ships are aware of these Regulations and their implementation dates, and fully comply with them.