Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 29 of 2012

These Regulations, implementing sections 335 (1) and (3) of section 434 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007, apply to: Nigerian ships and other ships while they are in Nigerian waters, controlled waters or any other water. The Regulations provide for: giving effect to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by garbage form ships (MARPOL ANNEX IV); prohibiting the disposal of garbage in the marine environment; setting out operational requirements for garbage management on board ships. Matters covered by these Regulations include: prohibition of disposal of plastics garbage outside special areas; prohibition of disposal of garbage other than plastics outside special areas, with exceptions concerning food waste and all other garbage including paper products, glass, metal; prohibition of disposal of any garbage from a ship into the sea within any Special Area; prohibition of disposal of any garbage into the sea from a fixed or floating installation or from any other ship alongside or within 500 metres of such installation, except for food wastes; restriction on garbage produced by Nigerian ships entering the Antarctic Area; preparation of a garbage management plan; inspection of ships and installation; contraventions and penalties.