33 CFR 151.53: Special areas under MARPOL Annex V
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section names the special areas under Annex V of MARPOL for purposes of §§ 151.51 through 151.77. It explains when the discharge restrictions in § 151.71 take effect in those areas. It also lists the special areas where the restrictions are in effect.
What it says
For §§ 151.51 through 151.77, the special areas are the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulfs, North Sea, Antarctic, and the Wider Caribbean region, which are described in § 151.06.
33 CFR 151.53(a)“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”
The Wider Caribbean region includes the Gulf of America and the Caribbean Sea.
33 CFR 151.53(a)“including the Gulf of America and the Caribbean Sea which are described in § 151.06”
The discharge restrictions in § 151.71 for special areas will take 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.
33 CFR 151.53(b)“the discharge restrictions in § 151.71 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”
Notice of the effective dates for each special area will be published in the Federal Register and reflected in this section.
33 CFR 151.53(b)“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.”
The discharge restrictions are in effect in the Wider Caribbean Region, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Gulfs, and Antarctic special areas.
33 CFR 151.53(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.”
Common questions
What are the Annex V special areas?
The special areas are the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulfs, North Sea, Antarctic, and the Wider Caribbean region. The text says they are described in § 151.06.
“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”
In which special areas are the garbage discharge restrictions in effect?
They are in effect in the Wider Caribbean Region, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Gulfs, and Antarctic special areas.
“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.”
When do discharge restrictions start in a special area?
They start when each party to MARPOL whose coastline borders the area has certified that reception facilities are available and the IMO has established an effective date for the area.
“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”
The text of 33 CFR 151.53
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Special areas for Annex V of MARPOL 73/78
(a) For the purposes of §§ 151.51 through 151.77, 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.
(b) In accordance with paragraph 3.2 of Regulation 8 of Annex V of MARPOL, the discharge restrictions in § 151.71 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.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.