Shipboard incineration – Regulation 16

Regulation 16.1 requires that incineration is only undertaken in equipment designed for that purpose while regulation 16.2 prohibits the incineration of certain listed materials and therefore can be seen as complimentary to the MARPOL Annex V requirements in respect of the processing of ship generated garbage. Shipboard incineration of polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) is prohibited by regulation 16.3, except in shipboard incinerator for which an IMO Type Approval Certificates has been issued in accordance with MEPC.59(33), MEPC.76(40) or MPEC.244(66). Regulation 16.4 recognizes that, while incineration of ship generated sewage sludge and sludge oil could alternatively be undertaken in main or auxiliary power plant or boilers, it is not to be undertaken within ports, harbours or estuaries.

Regulation 16.6 generally requires that incinerators installed on ships constructed on or after 1 January 2000 or units which are installed on existing ships on or after that date are to Type Approved in accordance with resolution MEPC.76(40) – as modified by resolution MEPC.93(45) or MEPC.244(66)  – Standard specification for shipboard incinerators. For these incinerators operating manuals are to be maintained onboard, regulation 16.7, and training as to their correct operation is to be given, regulation 16.8. Regulation 16.9 requires that operation is such that the stated temperatures are achieved in order to ensure complete incineration.