All boats and vessels have to store their sewage until they can safely dispose of it at an onshore or mobile pumpout facility, or hold it until # it can be discharged in the open ocean beyond three miles from shore.
Sewage and bilge water (would be classified as waste water) are two very different things. Bilgewater (aka waste water) can only go overboard once it goes through treatment to remove oil (oily water separator). And you can only do that at more than 20 miles from shore.
Sewage can be dumped after it is treated (Marine Sanitation Device) I believe after 3 miles. And then straight sewage can go overboard after 20 miles.
Within three miles (5 km) of shore, Annex IV requires that sewage discharges be treated by a certified MSD prior to discharge. Between three and 12 miles (19 km) from shore, sewage discharges must be treated by no less than maceration or chlorination; sewage discharges beyond 12 miles (19 km) from shore are unrestricted.
(12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24nm), and exclusive economic zone (200nm, plus maritime boundaries with adjacent/opposite countries).
Rules change a bit at 65ft and 80ft length boats. And more relaxed for personal use smaller craft.
Thanks for the indepth info. Memorizing these rules is damn near impossible. That's why cards are hanging in the engine spaces for this reason.
When I lived on a sailboat a few years ago, my shit went straight overboard, in harbor. Nobody dindu nuffin about it. And I swam in the water every day. I ate fish I caught in that water. I din give a fuck.
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