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Waste Reception Facilities

Reception facilities for all types of ship-generated wastes are provided in Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks. The Bristol Port Company provides skips and bins in Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks for the disposal of ship-generated garbage (including EU food and galley waste, International Catering Waste, plastic, paper, cans, glass etc). Disposal of all other types of ship’s waste are organised by prior arrangement through the Agent, including:

  • oil and oily mixtures
  • cargo residues
  • noxious liquid substances
  • sewage wastes, and
  • hazardous substances (for example paint tins, tyres, batteries, fluorescent light tubes)

The Port provides a list of approved waste contractors for Agents to contact to arrange for the reception of ship-generated wastes.

Skips

Further information on the facilities available for the reception of ship-generated waste and how the Port’s waste management system operates can be found in The Bristol Port Company’s Port Waste Management Plan for Ship-generated Waste. This Port Waste Management Plan is produced in accordance with the requirements of MARPOL 73/78, the Merchant Shipping & Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 (as amended) and other relevant international and national legislation. The Waste Management Plan can be viewed by clicking on the following link.

pdf fileBristol Port Company Waste Management Plan

Prior notification of waste to be landed

All vessels entering Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks must notify The Bristol Port Company, at least 24hrs in advance of their arrival, of the amounts of waste they are carrying and intend to discharge in the Port (this is a legal requirement). To do this Masters (or their agents) must complete and submit The Bristol Port Company Waste Declaration Form (MS49). The completed form must be sent to the Marine Department either by email to marine.admin@bristolport.co.uk or by fax to +44 (0) 117 938 1927. A form must be completed every time a vessel visits Avonmouth and Portbury Docks, unless the vessel is covered by an exemption from the MCA. A copy of this form can be downloaded by clicking on the following link.

pdf fileThe Bristol Port Company Waste Declaration Form (MS49)

Word documentThe Bristol Port Company Waste Declaration Form (MS49)

Excel spreadsheetThe Bristol Port Company Waste Declaration Form (MS49)

Delivery of ship’s waste

Vessels visiting Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks must ensure that all ship-generated waste is delivered into reception facilities before the ship leaves the port. The only exceptions to this are as follows:

  • if the waste is sewage and it is the intention to discharge at sea in accordance with Regulation 11 of Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78.
  • the vessel has sufficient dedicated storage capacity available on board to store the current waste, and any additional waste that will be generated in the period until the ship reaches the next port where it can be landed.

Summary guidance for vessels landing garbage in Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Docks can be viewed by clicking on the following link.

pdf fileBristol Port Company Waste Management Summary Information Sheet

Waste Management Charge

All vessels entering Bristol Port must pay the Waste Management Charge, whether they use the waste reception facilities provided in the Port or not. The mandatory Waste Management Charge covers all of the port’s costs in the reception, transport and disposal of ship-generated garbage and administering the Port Waste Management System. The level of the Waste Management Charge is reviewed annually and is published in The Bristol Port Company Vessel and Cargo Dues Schedule an extract of which can be viewed by clicking on the following link.

pdf fileThe Bristol Port Company Vessel and Cargo Dues Schedule (Extract)

Waste Management Complaints

Vessels, and their Agents, are requested to immediately report any inadequacies in the provision of waste reception facilities to the Port’s Marine Department:

Environment Manager
Marine Department
The Bristol Port Company
Avonmouth Docks
Bristol
BS11 9AT

Tel (office hours):+44 (0) 117 982 0000

Tel (out of office hours):+44 (0) 117 982 2257

Fax:+44 (0) 117 938 1927

Email:

Complaints can be made by any means, in person, telephone, e-mail or fax. However, vessels and Agents are encouraged to make complaints using the BPC Waste Reception Facilities Complaint Form (MS55). A copy of this form can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Word fileBristol Port Company Waste Reception Facilities Complaint Form (MS55)

pdf fileBristol Port Company Waste Reception Facilities Complaint Form (MS55)

All comments and complaints will be investigated as they arise and any inadequacies rectified. In the event that a complaint is not successfully resolved to the Master’s satisfaction, the IMO has developed an internationally agreed complaints procedure. This procedure requires the vessel’s Master to complete a complaint form and submit it to their flag State administration.

 

Failure to Comply

It is a legal requirement for vessels to comply with the following key elements of the Merchant Shipping & Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 (as amended):

  • prior notification, at least 24 hours in advance, of waste to be landed or retained on board
  • mandatory delivery of all ship-generated waste to reception facilities
  • payment of the mandatory waste management charge

Any vessels that do not comply with the above requirements will be reported to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Such ships may then be targeted by the MCA for inspection and destination ports will be informed of the vessel’s suspected non-compliance. The Owner or Master of a vessel that fails to comply with these requirements shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine.