Waterway Panorama - Antaq

Environmental governance analysis
Currently, solid waste production may be
considered a major environmental impact
of port activities. Such waste may be generated
by the port operation itself (operational
waste) or by ships (crew).
In order to minimize the impacts caused by
waste, there are several international and national
regulations. Brazil has signed the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships (MARPOL 73/78). Annex 5 dictates
rules for the prevention of pollution by garbage
from ships.
Internally, Law 9,966/2000 consolidates the
internalization of principles of MARPOL 73/78.
According to Article 5 of the Law, all organized
ports, port facilities, and platforms, as well as their
support facilities, shall mandatorily have facilities
or adequate means to receive and process various
types of waste, and combat pollution in compliance
with rules and criteria established by the
relevant environmental authority.
In order to receive waste from ships, there are
some basic rules: ships should deliver their waste
at waste reception facilities before leaving the
port (properly segregated, packaged, and
sealed); they should also give notice of the waste
to be discharged (quantity, quality, and reception
facilities) and pay a fee required to cover the
costs of the reception facilities.
ANVISA, alongside the VIGIAGRO, has its own
regulations to deal with the matter within their respective
areas.
The National Agency for Waterway Transportation
(ANTAQ) also plays an important role to
establish rules and standards of quality to port activities,
including environmental rules. Moreover,
it represents Brazil before international navigation
agencies, such as the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), in conventions, agreements
and treaties on waterway transportation.
In this sense, ANTAQ been working to define
the real roles of diverse stakeholders involved in
organized ports regarding the generation of
waste in port areas.
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