You arrive at a small UK port and request sewage disposal and garbage disposal. The port authority says no reception facilities are available. What are your rights?

A. PORT RECEPTION FACILITIES — Master's rights: MARPOL requires Contracting States to provide adequate reception facilities at ports. If facilities are claimed to be unavailable: (1) MARPOL ANNEX I (ORF) REPORT: under MARPOL, if a vessel cannot deliver waste because facilities are inadequate, the master must complete a Port Reception Facility report (PRF Notification) and submit it to the flag state and the relevant port state authority (in the UK, MCA). This formally records the deficiency; (2) MCA COMPLAINT: in UK ports, the MCA monitors port reception facility (PRF) adequacy. A formal report to the MCA creates a record and may trigger inspection of the port's PRF provision; (3) RETAIN WASTE: the vessel must retain the waste on board until suitable PRF is found — this is the only option when no facility is available; (4) NEXT PORT: arrange PRF disposal at the next port in advance; (5) MARPOL ANNEX I Regulation 7: every ship must be provided, before departure from any port, with adequate facilities for the reception of residues and mixtures containing oil — this is the port state's obligation; (6) PORT FEES: MARPOL convention members are required to ensure PRF fees do not create an incentive to dump at sea. Most EU ports include PRF costs in port dues.

B. If the port has no reception facilities, you may discharge waste at sea immediately outside the port entrance regardless of distance restrictions.

C. Port reception facilities are optional for ports under 500 berths. Small ports are not required to provide reception facilities under MARPOL.

D. Contact the port authority's commercial department — a cash payment to dock staff for unofficial disposal is standard practice at small ports.

A. MARPOL Annex I bilge water discharge — small vessel rules: MARPOL Annex I Regulation 15 covers machinery space bilge water. For vessels of 400 GT and above: bilge water may be discharged overboard only if: (a) outside Special Areas; (b) more than 12nm from the nearest land; (c) vessel is en route (not at anchor or in port); (d) oil content does not exceed 15 ppm (monitored by approved OCM); (e) Oil Record Book entry made. For vessels BETWEEN 400 GT and 400 GT (your vessel at 350 GT): MARPOL Annex I Regulation 15.2 applies a different regime — vessels of less than 400 GT must retain oil residues and bilge water on board or deliver to port reception facilities. There is no 15 ppm discharge provision for vessels under 400 GT outside special areas. PRACTICAL IMPLICATION: your 350 GT vessel CANNOT legally discharge bilge water overboard at 8nm. Options: (a) Pump to the bilge holding tank; (b) Continue to port and discharge to reception facilities; (c) If flooding emergency — it may be necessary, but this is a distress provision only.

B. Any vessel can discharge bilge water beyond 3nm from shore. MARPOL only applies to vessels over 1000 GT.

C. Discharge is permitted at 8nm as long as the bilge water is mixed with sea water to reduce the oil content below 50 ppm.

D. MARPOL does not apply within territorial waters (12nm). Beyond 12nm, all bilge water discharge by any vessel is unrestricted.

A. MARPOL Annex V (as amended 2013) — garbage discharge: (a) FOOD WASTE: may be discharged in territorial sea (>3nm from nearest land) or in special areas (>12nm from nearest land) only when comminuted or ground (passed through 25mm mesh) and the vessel is en route. Outside special areas and >12nm from land: food waste may be discharged without comminution provided it does not create a floating debris hazard; (b) PLASTIC — ALL FORMS: completely prohibited for overboard discharge in all ocean areas. This includes synthetic fishing nets, plastic bags, plastic packaging of any kind. No minimum distance applies — plastic NEVER goes overboard; (c) PAPER, RAGS, GLASS, METAL, CROCKERY: prohibited within 12nm from nearest land; permitted (outside special areas) beyond 12nm from land. IN THIS SCENARIO: food scraps at 15nm — permitted with caution (outside special area, >12nm, en route). Plastic — ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED at any distance. Paper — permitted at 15nm in non-special areas. A Garbage Management Plan (for vessels 100 GT+) must be carried and followed.

B. Food scraps and paper can always be discharged more than 3nm offshore. Plastics can only be discharged if they are biodegradable.

C. MARPOL Annex V only applies to commercial vessels over 5000 GT. Small near-coastal vessels are exempt from all garbage regulations.

D. All waste can be discharged at more than 12nm offshore — this is the MARPOL Annex V general limit for all waste types.