Clean Ships, Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Controlling Garbage and Plastic Wastes at Sea (1995)
Chapter: Analysis of Interventions
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CONTROL OF THE NOAA FLEET The NOAA fleet is subject to complete government control, particularly when these vessels use their home ports. The complement aboard a NOAA vessel includes uniformed service officers, civilian merchant mariners, and visiting scientists; the officers, who answer directly to higher commands, have authority over the entire crew. As a matter of policy, each NOAA command develops its own solid waste management procedures, although they have begun to receive direct technical support from the central engineering staff, particularly with regard to selection of pollution prevention equipment. All NOAA vessels are aging, and it will be difficult to retrofit them with either waste treatment equipment or on-board storage spaces to hold garbage for extended periods of time. Because it now appears that Navy R&D will not produce equipment appropriate for NOAA's missions, the research fleet will be compelled to use commercial equipment. However, NOAA has found available commercial incinerators to be unreliable, ineffective, and time consuming to operate. NOAA plans to foster Informal controls by introducing fleetwide Annex V awareness training for new officers and crews and well as visiting scientists. At present, no central MARPOL training is offered. Instead, each vessel's command is expected to provide a boarding briefing for all newly arriving personnel and visiting scientists. This briefing emphasizes emergency procedures but it also provides an opportunity to explain waste management practices and garbage disposal restrictions. |
compliance and have helped present evidence of marine debris to other seafarers. Internal sanctions and peer pressure not only encourage compliance but also foster innovations and improvements in garbage handling practices.
Analysis of Interventions
Table 4-9 outlines possible interventions to improve Annex V implementation on research vessels. Among the technological options, it is obvious that improved on-board garbage treatment equipment and appropriate storage space are needed. These features could be designed into any new vessels and retro fitted where possible.
Promising organizational interventions include continued reduction in use of disposable supplies. In addition, where feasible or required, discharge of all garbage except food could be halted. For example, when adequate storage space and garbage treatment equipment is available (e.g., on short voyages or well-designed new vessels), the crew and guest scientists might be able to refrain from even legal overboard discharge of garbage, including used equipment. Federally supported research vessels could set an example in this regard.
Education is also important, particularly because of the turnover in guest scientists. Vessel operators also need to be educated about compliance strategies,
TABLE 4-9 Applying the Hazard Evolution and Intervention Model to Research Vessels and Their Ports of Call
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Hazard Evolution Model |
Human Behavior that Encourages Generating Garbage |
On-board Generation of Garbage |
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Intervention Model |
Modify Behavior that Encourages Generating Garbage |
Reduce Garbage Generation |
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Technological |
Reduce or eliminate convenience packaging of supplies and foods. |
Provide alternate packaging where possible (given packaging standards for electronic equipment). |
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Organizational and Operational |
Modify comfort and convenience levels. Reduce number of daily meals (now set by union contract). Reduce crew sizes. |
Use only vendors committed to packaging and storage techniques that minimize waste. Remove disposables from ship stores. Sort garbage at site of generation. |
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Educational (Target Population/Content) |
Inform crews of the need for and benefits of changes (in terms of health, nutrition, cost savings, environmental protection). |
Inform managers of options for alternate packaging, provisioning, and deployment procedures. Inform crews and guest scientists of ways to minimize waste materials brought on board. |
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Government or Private Regulation and Enforcement |
Renegotiate union agreement provisions that trigger waste generation. Amend voyage operating agreements to minimize equipment packaging scientists bring on board. |
Prohibit use of disposable items. |
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Hazard Evolution Model |
Breakdown in Compliance |
Discharge of Garbage into Sea |
Exposure to Discharged Garbage |
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Intervention Model |
Prevent Breakdown in Compliance |
Block Discharge of Garbage into Sea |
Block Exposure to Discharged Garbage |
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Technological |
Keep shipboard systems well maintained. Incorporate garbage handling equipment and storage spaces into new vessels. |
Provide sufficient garbage storage space and efficient on-board garbage treatment equipment. |
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Organizational and Operational |
Provide reminders with posters and placards. |
Introduce efficient on-board garbage handling procedures. Assure that port reception facilities are adequate. |
Implement a zero discharge standard where feasible or necessary. |
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Educational (Target Population/Content) |
Educate management about legal mandates, compliance strategies, and methods for educating and training personnel. Educate crews and scientists about mandates, compliance methods, environmental consequences of discharge, and penalties for violations. |
Develop recycling programs for items (cans) otherwise discharged overboard legally. Promote recognition of marine debris problem at scientific conferences. |
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Government or Private Regulation and Enforcement |
Require garbage sorting and holding of certain materials for shoreside recycling. |
Keep records of garbage transactions. Establish and enforce internal guidelines and penalties (fleet policies). |
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