Annex IV of IMO’s MARPOL Convention, adopted 40 years ago, set ambitious standards for ship black water discharges, but there are two shortfalls: firstly, grey water is not regulated, and secondly (and uniquely), there is no requirement for sewage discharges from ships to be monitored.
What’s the point of stricter standards if they aren’t enforced?
Wendy Laursen talks to Wei Chen of Wärtsilä who explains that the regulation of black and grey waste water treatment continues to evolve, but the problems remain the same.
