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<p>The discharge of bilge water from ships is governed by internationally agreed regulations
which are implemented and enforced in the UK by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
(MCA). The UK regulations prohibit the discharge of bilge water unless specific control
measures are met. These regulations were updated in 2019 and have provisions built
into the regulations to enable the efficient implementation of new international standards
to ensure that UK regulations remain current and effective. Compliance is monitored
by various means, which include, satellite surveillance, manned aircraft surveillance
and reconnaissance of UK waters and the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), port state
control inspections and the mandatory regulatory requirements for ships to report
pollution incidents. If there is evidence of a breach of the regulations, the MCA
can use a variety of enforcement action up to and including detention of the ship
and prosecution of the owner/operator.</p><p> </p><p>All incidences of pollution must
be reported and, where appropriate, feasible reports are investigated via a variety
of means by the MCA. Records reflect that there has been no evidence of illegal bilge
dumping in UK Waters or the UK EEZ. Potential illegal discharges recorded have all
occurred within Harbour Authority jurisdiction; all have been minor and caused by
accident rather than by any deliberate act to pollute. The impact of these incidents
has been negligible and quickly resolved, with sanction and/or enforcement action
to the responsibility of the Statutory Harbour Authority. The MCA’s Regulatory Compliance
and Investigations Team has never had the need to undertake prosecution action for
such situations.</p><p> </p>
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