---
kind: "range"
citation: "33 C.F.R. §§ 151.51–151.77"
title: "33"
from: "151.51"
to: "151.77"
count: 15
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/151.51..151.77"
---

# §151.51. Applicability.

- (a) Except as provided in [paragraphs (b) through (f)](#b..f) of this section, [§§ 151.51 through 151.77](/cfr/33/151.51..151.77.md) apply to each ship that—
  - (1) Is of United States registry or nationality, or one operated under the authority of the United States, including recreational vessels defined in [46 U.S.C. 2101](/usc/46/2101.md) and uninspected vessels defined in [46 U.S.C. 2101](/usc/46/2101.md), wherever located; or
  - (2) Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.
- (b) [Sections 151.51 through 151.77](/cfr/33/151.51..151.77.md) do not apply to—
  - (1) A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in noncommercial service; or
  - (2) **Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL.**
- (c) [Section 151.55](/cfr/33/151.55.md) (Recordkeeping) applies to—
  - (1) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 400 gross tons and above that is documented under the laws of the United States or numbered by a State;
  - (2) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 400 gross tons and above that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States;
  - (3) A manned fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or
  - (4) **A manned ship that is certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in international voyages.**
- (d) [Section 151.57](/cfr/33/151.57.md) (Garbage Management Plans) applies to—
  - (1) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 40 feet or more in length that is documented under the laws of the United States or numbered by a state and that either is engaged in commerce or is equipped with a galley and berthing;
  - (2) A manned fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or
  - (3) A manned ship of 100 gross tons or more that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.
- (e) [Section 151.59 (Placards)](/cfr/33/151.59.md?p=Placards) applies to—
  - (1) A manned U.S. ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) that is 26 feet or more in length;
  - (2) A manned floating drilling rig or other platform in transit that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or
  - (3) A manned ship of 40 feet or more in length that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.
- (f) [Section 151.73](/cfr/33/151.73.md) (Discharge of Garbage from Fixed or Floating platforms) only applies to a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

# §151.53. Special areas for Annex V of MARPOL 73/78.

- (a) For the purposes of [§§ 151.51 through 151.77](/cfr/33/151.51..151.77.md), the special areas are the Mediterranean Sea area, the Baltic Sea area, the Black Sea area, the Red Sea area, the Gulfs area, the North Sea area, the Antarctic area, and the Wider Caribbean region, including the Gulf of America and the Caribbean Sea which are described in [§ 151.06](/cfr/33/151.06.md).
- (b) In accordance with paragraph 3.2 of Regulation 8 of Annex V of MARPOL, the discharge restrictions in [§ 151.71](/cfr/33/151.71.md) for special areas will enter into effect when each party to MARPOL whose coastline borders the special area has certified that reception facilities are available and the IMO has established an effective date for each special area. Notice of the effective dates for the discharge requirements in each special area will be published in the Federal Register and reflected in this section.
- (c) The discharge restrictions are in effect in the Wider Caribbean Region, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Gulfs, and the Antarctic special areas.

# §151.55. Recordkeeping requirements.

- (a) The master or person in charge of a ship to which this section applies shall ensure that a written record is maintained on the ship of each of the following garbage discharge or disposal operations:
  - (1) Discharge to a reception facility or to another ship;
  - (2) Incineration on the ship;
  - (3) Discharge into the sea; and/or
  - (4) **Accidental or other exceptional discharges.**
- (b) When garbage is discharged to a reception facility or to another ship, the record under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must contain the following information:
  - (1) The date and time of the discharge;
  - (2) If the operation was conducted at a port, the name of the port;
  - (3) If the operation was not conducted at a port, the latitude and longitude of the location where the operation was conducted, and if the operation involved off-loading to another ship, the name and official number of the receiving ship;
  - (4) The categories of garbage involved; and
  - (5) **The estimated amount of each category of garbage discharged, described by volume in cubic meters.**
- (c) When garbage is incinerated on the ship, the record under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must contain the following information:
  - (1) The date and time of the starting and stopping of the incineration;
  - (2) The latitude and longitude of the ship at the starting and stopping of the incineration;
  - (3) The categories of the garbage involved; and
  - (4) **The estimated amount of each category of garbage involved, described by volume in cubic meters.**
- (d) When garbage which is allowed into the sea is discharged overboard, the record under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must contain the following information:
  - (1) The date and time of the discharge;
  - (2) The latitude and longitude of the ship;
  - (3) The categories of the garbage involved; and
  - (4) **The estimated amount of each category of garbage involved, described by volume in cubic meters.**
- (e) For the record under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, the categories of garbage are
  - (1) Plastics,
  - (2) Food wastes,
  - (3) Domestic wastes,
  - (4) Cooking oil,
  - (5) Incinerator ashes,
  - (6) Operational wastes,
  - (7) Cargo residues,
  - (8) Animal carcasses, and
  - (9) **Fishing gear.**
- (f) The record under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must be prepared at the time of the operation, certified as correct by the master or person in charge of the ship, maintained on the ship for 2 years following the operation, and made available for inspection by the Coast Guard.

# §151.57. Garbage management plans.

- (a) The master or person in charge of a ship to which this section applies shall ensure that the ship is not operated unless a garbage management plan meeting [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section is on the ship and that each person handling garbage follows the plan.
- (b) Each garbage management plan under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must be in writing and—
  - (1) Provide for the discharge of garbage by means that meet Annex V of MARPOL, the Act, and [§§ 151.51 through 151.77](/cfr/33/151.51..151.77.md);
  - (2) Describe procedures for minimizing, collecting, processing, storing, and discharging garbage; and
  - (3) **Designate the person who is in charge of carrying out the plan.**

# §151.59. Placards.

- (a) The master or person in charge of a ship, including a drilling rig or platform, to which this section applies shall ensure that one or more placards meeting the requirements of this section are displayed in prominent locations and in sufficient numbers so that they can be read by the crew and passengers. These locations must be readily accessible to the intended reader and may include embarkation points, food service facilities, garbage handling spaces, living spaces, and common areas on deck. If the Captain of the Port (COTP) determines that the number or location of the placards is insufficient to adequately inform crew and passengers, the COTP may require additional placards and may specify their locations.
- (b) Each placard must be at least 20 cm (8 in) wide by 12 1/2 cm (5 in) high, made of a durable material, and legible.
- (c) At a minimum, each placard must notify the reader of the operating requirements contained in [§§ 151.67 through 151.73](/cfr/33/151.67..151.73.md) as they apply to that ship. The following requirements should also be prominently stated:
  - (1) The discharge of all garbage is prohibited into the navigable waters of the United States and into all other waters except as specifically allowed;
  - (2) The discharge of all forms of plastic into all waters is prohibited;
  - (3) A person who violates the above requirements is liable for civil and/or criminal penalties; and
  - (4) Regional, state, and local restrictions on garbage discharges also may apply.
- (d) For ships while operating on the Great Lakes or their connecting or tributary waters, the placard must—
  - (1) Notify the reader of the information in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section; or
  - (2) **Notify the reader of the following—**
    - (i) Except as allowed by [§ 151.66](/cfr/33/151.66.md), the discharge of all garbage into the Great Lakes or their connecting or tributary waters is prohibited; and
    - (ii) A person who violates the above requirements is liable for a civil penalty for each violation, and the criminal penalties of a class D felony.

# §151.61. Inspection for compliance and enforcement.


While within the navigable waters of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone, a ship is subject to inspection by the Coast Guard or other authorized federal agency to determine if—

- (a) The ship has been operating in accordance with these regulations and has not discharged plastics or other garbage in violation of the provisions of the Act or Annex V of MARPOL;
- (b) Grinders or comminuters used for the discharge of garbage between 3 and 12 nautical miles from nearest land are capable of reducing the size of garbage so that it will pass through a screen with openings no greater than 25 millimeters (one inch);
- (c) Information for recordkeeping requirements, when required under [§ 151.55](/cfr/33/151.55.md), is properly and accurately logged;
- (d) A garbage management plan, when required under [§ 151.57](/cfr/33/151.57.md), is on board and that the condition of the ship, equipment and operational procedures of the ship meet the plan; and
- (e) Placards, when required by [§ 151.59](/cfr/33/151.59.md), are posted on board.

# §151.63. Shipboard control of garbage.

- (a) The master, operator, or person who is in charge of a ship shall ensure that all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with [§§ 151.66-151.73](/cfr/33/151.66-151.73.md).
- (b) The following factors, among others, may be considered by enforcement personnel in evaluating compliance with [§§ 151.51 through 151.77](/cfr/33/151.51..151.77.md):
  - (1) **Records, including receipts, of garbage discharges at port reception facilities.**
  - (2) Records under [§ 151.55](/cfr/33/151.55.md) or log entries of garbage discharges.
  - (3) The presence and operability of equipment to treat ship-generated garbage, including, but not limited to, incinerators, grinders, or comminuters.
  - (4) **The presence of and adherence to a written shipboard garbage management plan.**
  - (5) **The absence of plastics in ship stores.**
  - (6) Ongoing educational programs to train shipboard personnel of garbage handling procedures and the need for these.
  - (7) The presence of shipboard spaces used for collecting, processing, storing and discharging ship-generated garbage.
- (c) The master, operator, or person who is in charge of a ship shall ensure that if garbage is transported from a ship by shipboard personnel, it is properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.

# §151.65. Reporting requirements.


The master or person who is in charge of each oceangoing ship shall notify the port or terminal, at least 24 hours before entering the port or terminal, of the name of the ship and the estimated volume of garbage requiring disposal, if any of the following types of garbage are to be discharged:

- (a) Garbage regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under 7 CFR [330.400](/cfr/7/330.400.md) or [9](/cfr/7/9.md) CFR 94.5;
- (b) Medical wastes; or
- (c) Hazardous wastes defined in [40 CFR 261.3](/cfr/40/261.3.md).

# §151.66. Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage in the Great Lakes and other navigable waters.

- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person on board any ship may discharge garbage into the navigable waters of the United States. Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surface wash water may be discharged only if these substances are not harmful to the marine environment.
- (b)
  - (1) On the U.S. waters of the Great Lakes, commercial vessels may discharge bulk dry cargo residues in accordance with and subject to the conditions imposed by this paragraph.
  - (2) **As used in this paragraph and in paragraph (c) of this section—** Apostle Islands National Lakeshore means the site on or near Lake Superior administered by the National Park Service, less Madeline Island, and including the Wisconsin shoreline of Bayfield Peninsula from the point of land at 46°57′19.7″ N. 090°52′51.0″ W southwest along the shoreline to a point of land at 46°52′56.4″ N. 091°3′3.1″ W.

    Broom clean means a condition in which the vessel's deck shows that care has been taken to prevent or eliminate any visible concentration of bulk dry cargo residues, so that any remaining bulk dry cargo residues consist only of dust, powder, or isolated and random pieces, none of which exceeds 1 inch in diameter.

    Bulk dry cargo residues means non-hazardous and non-toxic residues, regardless of particle size, of dry cargo carried in bulk, including limestone and other clean stone, iron ore, coal, salt, and cement. It does not include residues of any substance known to be toxic or hazardous, such as nickel, copper, zinc, lead, or materials classified as hazardous in provisions of law or treaty.

    Caribou Island and Southwest Bank Protection Area means the area enclosed by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates, beginning on the northernmost point and proceeding clockwise:

    Commercial vessel means a commercial vessel loading, unloading, or discharging bulk dry cargo in the U.S. waters of the Great Lakes, or a U.S. commercial vessel transporting bulk dry cargo and operating anywhere on the Great Lakes; but the term does not include a non-self-propelled barge unless it is part of an integrated tug and barge unit.

    Comparable characteristics, cargoes, and operations means similar vessel design, size, age, crew complement, cargoes, operational routes, deck and hold configuration, and fixed cargo transfer equipment configuration.

    Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge means the U.S. waters of the Detroit River bound by the area extending from the Michigan shore at the southern outlet of the Rouge River to 41°54.0′ N., 083°06.0′ W. along the U.S.-Canada boundary southward and clockwise connecting points:

    Dry cargo residue (or DCR) management plan means the plan required by [paragraph (b)(5)](#b-5) of this section.

    Grand Portage National Monument means the site on or near Lake Superior, administered by the National Park Service, from the southwest corner of the monument point of land at 47°57.521′ N 089°41.245′ W. to the northeast corner of the monument point of land, 47°57.888′ N 089°40.725′ W.

    Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore means the site on or near Lake Michigan, administered by the National Park Service, from a point of land near Gary, Indiana at 41°42′59.4″ N 086°54′59.9″ W eastward along the shoreline to 41°37′08.8″N 087°17′18.8″ W near Michigan City, Indiana.

    Industry standard practices means practices that ensure the proper installation, maintenance, and operation of shipboard cargo transfer and DCR removal equipment, proper crew training in DCR minimization procedures and cargo transfer operations, and proper supervision of cargo transfer operations to minimize DCR accumulation on or in a commercial vessel.

    Integrated tug and barge unit means any tug-barge combination which, through the use of special design features or a specially designed connection system, has increased sea-keeping capabilities relative to a tug and barge in the conventional pushing mode.

    Isle Royale National Park means the site on or near Lake Superior, administered by the National Park Service, where the boundary includes any submerged lands within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States within 4 1/2 miles of the shoreline of Isle Royale and the surrounding islands, including Passage Island and Gull Island.

    Mile means a statute mile.

    Milwaukee Mid-Lake Special Protection Area means the area enclosed by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates, beginning on the northernmost point and proceeding clockwise:

    Minimization means the reduction, to the greatest extent practicable, of any bulk dry cargo residue discharge from the vessel.

    Northern Refuge means the area enclosed by rhumb lines connecting the coordinates, beginning on the northernmost point and proceeding clockwise:

    Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore means the site on or near Lake Superior, administered by the National Park Service, from a point of land at 46°26′21.3″ N 086°36′43.2″ W eastward along the Michigan shoreline to 46°40′22.2″ N 085°59′58.1″ W.

    Six Fathom Scarp Mid-Lake Special Protection Area means the area enclosed by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates, beginning on the northernmost point and proceeding clockwise:

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore means the site on or near Lake Michigan, administered by the National Park Service, that includes North Manitou Island, South Manitou Island and the Michigan shoreline from a point of land at 44°42′45.1″ N, 086°12′18.1″ W north and eastward along the shoreline to 44°57′12.0″ N, 085°48′12.8″ W.

    Stannard Rock Protection Area means the area within a 6-mile radius from Stannard Rock Light, at 47°10′57″ N 087°13′34″ W.

    Superior Shoal Protection Area means the area within a 6-mile radius from the center of Superior Shoal, at 48°03.2′ N 087°06.3′ W.

    Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary means the site on or near Lake Huron designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the boundary that forms an approximately rectangular area by extending along the ordinary high water mark between the northern and southern boundaries of Alpena County, cutting across the mouths of rivers and streams, and lakeward from those points along latitude lines to longitude 83 degrees west. The coordinates of the boundary are:

    Waukegan Special Protection Area means the area enclosed by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates, beginning on the northernmost point and proceeding clockwise:

    Western Basin means that portion of Lake Erie west of a line due south from Point Pelee.

  - (3) Discharges of bulk dry cargo residue under [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section are allowed, subject to the conditions listed in Table 151.66(b)(3) of this section.
  - (4) The master, owner, operator, or person in charge of any commercial vessel must ensure that the vessel's deck is kept broom clean whenever the vessel is in transit.
  - (5) The master, owner, operator, or person in charge of any commercial vessel must ensure that a dry cargo residue management plan is on board the vessel, is kept available for Coast Guard inspection, and that all operations are conducted in accordance with the plan. A waste management plan meeting the requirements of [33 CFR 151.57](/cfr/33/151.57.md) satisfies this requirement, so long as it provides all the information required by this [paragraph (b)(5)](#b-5). If the plan is maintained electronically, at least one paper copy of the plan must be on board for use during inspections. The plan must describe the specific measures the vessel employs to ensure the minimization of bulk dry cargo residue discharges, and, at a minimum, must list or describe—
    - (i) Equipment on board the vessel that is designed to minimize bulk dry cargo spillage during loading and unloading;
    - (ii) Equipment on board the vessel that is available to recover spilled cargo from the decks and transfer tunnels and return it to the holds or to unloading conveyances;
    - (iii) Operational procedures employed by the vessel's crew during the loading or unloading of bulk dry cargoes to minimize cargo spillage onto the decks and into the transfer tunnels and to achieve and maintain the broom clean deck condition required by [paragraph (b)(4)](#b-4) of this section;
    - (iv) Operational procedures employed by the vessel's crew during or after loading or unloading operations to return spilled bulk dry cargo residue to the vessel's holds or to shore via an unloading conveyance;
    - (v) How the vessel's owner or operator ensures that the vessel's crew is familiar with any operational procedures described by the plan;
    - (vi) The position title of the person on board who is in charge of ensuring compliance with procedures described in the plan;
    - (vii) Any arrangements between the vessel and specific ports or terminals for the unloading and disposal of the vessel's bulk dry cargo residues ashore; and
    - (viii) The procedures used and the vessel's operating conditions to be maintained during any unavoidable discharge of bulk dry cargo residue into the Great Lakes.
  - (6) In determining whether a commercial vessel or person is in compliance with [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, Coast Guard personnel may consider—
    - (i) The extent to which the procedures described in the vessel's DCR management plan reflect current industry standard practices for vessels of comparable characteristics, cargoes, and operations;
    - (ii) The crew's demonstrated ability to perform tasks for which the DCR management plan holds them responsible;
    - (iii) Whether equipment described in the DCR management plan is maintained in proper operating condition; and
    - (iv) The extent to which the crew adheres to the vessel's DCR management plan during actual dry cargo loading and unloading operations and DCR discharge operations.
- (c)
  - (1) The master, owner, operator, or person in charge of any commercial ship loading, unloading, or discharging bulk dry cargo in the United States' waters of the Great Lakes and the master, owner, operator, or person in charge of a U.S. commercial ship transporting bulk dry cargo and operating anywhere on the Great Lakes, excluding non-self propelled barges that are not part of an integrated tug and barge unit, must ensure that a written record is maintained on the ship that fully and accurately records information on:
    - (i) Each loading or unloading operation on the United States' waters of the Great Lakes, or in the case of U.S. commercial ships on any waters of the Great Lakes, involving bulk dry cargo; and
    - (ii) Each discharge of bulk dry cargo residue that takes place in United States' waters of the Great Lakes, or in the case of U.S. commercial ships on any waters of the Great Lakes.
  - (2) For each loading or unloading operation, the record must describe:
    - (i) The date of the operation;
    - (ii) Whether the operation involved loading or unloading;
    - (iii) The name of the loading or unloading facility;
    - (iv) The type of bulk dry cargo loaded or unloaded;
    - (v) The method or methods used to control the amount of bulk dry cargo residue, either onboard the ship or at the facility;
    - (vi) The time spent to implement methods for controlling the amount of bulk dry cargo residue; and
    - (vii) The estimated volume of bulk dry cargo residue created by the loading or unloading operation that is to be discharged.
  - (3) For each discharge, the record must describe:
    - (i) The date and time the discharge started, and the date and time the discharge ended;
    - (ii) The ship's position, in latitude and longitude, when the discharge started and when the discharge ended; and
    - (iii) **The ship's speed during the discharge.**
    - (iv) Records must be certified by the master, owner, operator, or person in charge; must be kept in written form on board the ship for at least 2 years; and must be made available for Coast Guard inspection upon request.

# §151.67. Operating requirements: Discharge of plastic prohibited.


No person on board any ship may discharge into the sea, or into the navigable waters of the United States, plastic or garbage mixed with plastic, including, but not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags. All garbage containing plastics requiring disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.


# §151.69. Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage outside special areas.

- (a) Except for ships operating in the Great Lakes which must comply with [section 151.66](/cfr/33/151.66.md), when a ship is operating outside of a special area specified in [§ 151.53](/cfr/33/151.53.md), no person may discharge garbage into the sea, except as allowed in [paragraphs (b) through (d)](#b..d) of this section.
- (b) The following allowed discharges of garbage shall only be conducted while the ship is en route and as far as practicable from the nearest land, but never less than—
  - (1) 12 nautical miles for food wastes, except that, such food wastes may be discharged outside of 3 nautical miles from nearest land after they have been processed with a grinder or comminuter specified in [§ 151.75](/cfr/33/151.75.md);
  - (2) 12 nautical miles for cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading. The discharged cargo residues must not be harmful to the marine environment; and
  - (3) 100 nautical miles and the maximum water depth possible for animal carcasses. Discharge shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable International Maritime Organization guidelines.
- (c) Cleaning agents or additives contained in cargo hold, deck, and external surfaces wash water may be discharged only if these substances are not harmful to the marine environment.
- (d) Mixtures of garbage having different discharge requirements must be:
  - (1) Retained on board for later disposal ashore; or
  - (2) Discharged in accordance with the more stringent requirement prescribed by [paragraphs (a) through (c)](#a..c) of this section.

# §151.71. Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage within special areas.

- (a) When a ship is located within a special area referenced in [§ 151.53](/cfr/33/151.53.md) of this part, no person may discharge garbage into the water, except as allowed in this section.
- (b) Food wastes shall only be discharged while the ship is en route and—
  - (1) As far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, but not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf;
  - (2) After having been processed with a grinder or comminuter specified in [§ 151.75](/cfr/33/151.75.md); and
  - (3) **Not contaminated by any other garbage type.**
  - (4) The discharge of introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless it has been treated to be made sterile.
- (c) Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading may be discharged where all the following conditions are satisfied:
  - (1) The cargo residues, cleaning agents or additives contained in the cargo hold washing water do not contain any substances that are harmful to the marine environment.
  - (2) Both the port of departure and the next port of destination must be within the special area and the ship will not transit outside of the special area when moving between those ports.
  - (3) **No adequate reception facilities are available at those ports.**
  - (4) When the conditions of [paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3)](#c-1..c-3) of this section have been fulfilled, discharge of cargo hold washing water containing residues shall be made as far as practicable from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf and not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf.
- (d) Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged only if those substances are not harmful to the marine environment.
- (e) Mixtures of garbage having different discharge requirements must be:
  - (1) Retained on board for later disposal ashore; or
  - (2) Discharged in accordance with the more stringent requirement prescribed by [paragraphs (b) through (d)](#b..d) of this section.

# §151.73. Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage from fixed or floating platforms.

- (a) Except as allowed in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, no person may discharge garbage from—
  - (1) A fixed or floating platform engaged in the exploration, exploitation or associated offshore processing of seabed mineral resources; or
  - (2) **Any ship within 500 meters (1650 feet) of such platforms.**
- (b) Food waste may be discharged into the surrounding waters from a ship or fixed or floating platform regulated by [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section if—
  - (1) It is processed with a grinder or comminuter meeting the standards in [§ 151.75](/cfr/33/151.75.md); and
  - (2) **That ship or fixed or floating drilling rig or platform is beyond 12 nautical miles from nearest land.**

# §151.75. Grinders or comminuters.


Each grinder or comminuter used to discharge garbage in accordance with [§ 151.69(b)(1)](/cfr/33/151.69.md?p=b-1), [§ 151.71(b)(2)](/cfr/33/151.71.md?p=b-2), or [§ 151.73(b)(1)](/cfr/33/151.73.md?p=b-1), must be capable of processing garbage so that it passes through a screen with openings no greater than 25 millimeters (one inch).


# §151.77. Exceptions for emergencies and health risks.


Sections [151.67](/cfr/33/151.67.md), [151.69](/cfr/33/151.69.md), [151.71](/cfr/33/151.71.md), and [151.73](/cfr/33/151.73.md) do not apply to the following:

- (a) Discharges of garbage from a ship necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship and those on board or saving life at sea.
- (b) The accidental loss of garbage resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment, provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the occurrence of the damage, to prevent or minimize the accidental loss.
- (c) The accidental loss of fishing gear from a ship, provided all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent such loss.
- (d) The discharge of fishing gear from a ship for the protection of the marine environment or for the safety of that ship or its crew.
- (e) The en route requirements of §§ [151.69](/cfr/33/151.69.md) and [151.71](/cfr/33/151.71.md) do not apply to the discharge of food wastes when it is clear the retention on board of these food wastes present an imminent health risk to the people on board.