MARPOL Annex IV Sewage Discharge

Minimum distance from land and rate/speed limits for sewage discharge per MARPOL Annex IV.

sewageMARPOL

Treatment levelShip speedkn

Minimum distance / rate: ≥ 12 nm from nearest land; moderate rate while under way at ≥ 4 knots

Speed check: Speed ≥ 4 kn - compliant for untreated / comminuted

Changing the inputs requires JavaScript. The calculator above shows its default inputs and result. The formula, symbols, and regulatory sources are shown in the Formula section below.

Formula, assumptions, and limits

\text{Distance} = \{12 \text{ nm (raw)}, \; 3 \text{ nm (comminuted)}, \; 0 \text{ (STP)}\}

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
$Treatment$	Raw / comminuted / type-approved STP
$Speed$	Under-way ship speed	kn

Source: MARPOL Annex IV Reg 11; MEPC.227(64) - STP performance standards

In short

Minimum distance from land and rate/speed limits for sewage discharge per MARPOL Annex IV.

Learn the theory MARPOL Convention: Pollution Prevention