33 CFR 151.63: Shipboard control of garbage
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section makes the master, operator, or person in charge of a ship responsible for how garbage leaves the ship. Garbage must be discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66 through 151.73. It also lists factors enforcement personnel may consider when evaluating compliance.
Applies toThe master, operator, or person who is in charge of a ship.
What it says
The master, operator, or person in charge of a ship must ensure that all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66 through 151.73.
33 CFR 151.63(a)“shall ensure that all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66-151.73.”
Enforcement personnel may consider factors such as these, among others, when evaluating compliance with §§ 151.51 through 151.77.
33 CFR 151.63(b)“The following factors, among others, may be considered by enforcement personnel in evaluating compliance with §§ 151.51 through 151.77:”
Enforcement personnel may consider records, including receipts, of garbage discharges at port reception facilities.
33 CFR 151.63(b)(1)“Records, including receipts, of garbage discharges at port reception facilities.”
Enforcement personnel may consider the presence and operability of equipment to treat ship-generated garbage, including incinerators, grinders, or comminuters.
33 CFR 151.63(b)(3)“The presence and operability of equipment to treat ship-generated garbage, including, but not limited to, incinerators, grinders, or comminuters.”
Enforcement personnel may consider the presence of and adherence to a written shipboard garbage management plan.
33 CFR 151.63(b)(4)“The presence of and adherence to a written shipboard garbage management plan.”
The master, operator, or person in charge of a ship must ensure that garbage transported from the ship by shipboard personnel is properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.
33 CFR 151.63(c)“shall ensure that if garbage is transported from a ship by shipboard personnel, it is properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.”
Common questions
Who is responsible for garbage control on a ship?
The master, operator, or person in charge of the ship must ensure all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66 through 151.73.
“shall ensure that all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66-151.73.”
What may enforcement personnel look at to check garbage compliance?
They may consider factors such as discharge records and receipts, treatment equipment, a written garbage management plan, and the absence of plastics in ship stores.
“The absence of plastics in ship stores.”
Where must garbage carried off a ship by crew be deposited?
It must be properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.
“it is properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.”
The text of 33 CFR 151.63
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Shipboard control of garbage
(a) The master, operator, or person who is in charge of a ship shall ensure that all garbage is discharged ashore or in accordance with §§ 151.66-151.73.
(b) The following factors, among others, may be considered by enforcement personnel in evaluating compliance with §§ 151.51 through 151.77:
(1) Records, including receipts, of garbage discharges at port reception facilities.
(2) Records under § 151.55 or log entries of garbage discharges.
(3) The presence and operability of equipment to treat ship-generated garbage, including, but not limited to, incinerators, grinders, or comminuters.
(4) The presence of and adherence to a written shipboard garbage management plan.
(5) The absence of plastics in ship stores.
(6) Ongoing educational programs to train shipboard personnel of garbage handling procedures and the need for these.
(7) The presence of shipboard spaces used for collecting, processing, storing and discharging ship-generated garbage.
(c) The master, operator, or person who is in charge of a ship shall ensure that if garbage is transported from a ship by shipboard personnel, it is properly deposited into a port or terminal's reception facility.
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.