33 CFR 151.55: Garbage discharge recordkeeping on ships

What it says

1. The master or person in charge of a ship to which this section applies must ensure that a written record is kept on the ship of each garbage discharge or disposal operation listed in the section.

   33 CFR 151.55(a)“shall ensure that a written record is maintained on the ship of each of the following garbage discharge or disposal operations:”

2. A record of garbage discharged to a reception facility or to another ship must include the date and time, the name of the port if at a port, and the categories and estimated amounts of garbage.

   33 CFR 151.55(b)(2)“If the operation was conducted at a port, the name of the port;”

3. If a discharge was not at a port, the record must give the latitude and longitude, and for off-loading to another ship, the name and official number of the receiving ship.

   33 CFR 151.55(b)(3)“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. A record of incineration must include the date and time of starting and stopping, the ship's latitude and longitude at starting and stopping, and the categories and estimated volume of garbage.

   33 CFR 151.55(c)(2)“The latitude and longitude of the ship at the starting and stopping of the incineration;”

5. A record of garbage discharged overboard where it is allowed into the sea must include the date and time, the ship's latitude and longitude, and the categories and estimated amounts of garbage.

   33 CFR 151.55(d)“When garbage which is allowed into the sea is discharged overboard, the record under paragraph (a) of this section must contain the following information:”

6. The record must describe the estimated amount of each garbage category by volume in cubic meters.

   33 CFR 151.55(d)(4)“The estimated amount of each category of garbage involved, described by volume in cubic meters.”

7. The garbage categories are plastics, food wastes, domestic wastes, cooking oil, incinerator ashes, operational wastes, cargo residues, animal carcasses, and fishing gear.

   33 CFR 151.55(e)“For the record under paragraph (a) of this section, the categories of garbage are”

8. The record must be prepared at the time of the operation, certified as correct by the master or person in charge, kept on the ship for 2 years following the operation, and made available for Coast Guard inspection.

   33 CFR 151.55(f)“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.”

Common questions

The text of 33 CFR 151.55

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Recordkeeping requirements