BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

RECEPTION FACILITIES IN PORTS
Article 7.2. of the present Convention states the following
requirements:
"2. The Contracting Parties shall develop and apply uniform
requirements for the capacity and location of facilities
for the reception of residues of oil, harmful substances
other than oil, including sewage and garbage, taking into
account inter alia the special needs of passenger ships and
combination carriers".
HELCOM Recommendation l/l adopted 5 May 1980 as the first
recommendation adopted by the Commission deals with this issue.
In the operative paragraph of the recommendation the following is
stated:
"RECOMMENDS Governments of the Contracting Parties to the
Helsinki Convention to take appropriate steps to ensure
that reception facilities for oily residues and other
wastes from ships are used to the fullest extent; taking
into account that the cost and the time factors are
essential in connection with the use of reception facilities
for wastes from ships and that any measures which could
provide disincentives to such use should be avoided."
The obligations of Article 7 and Recommendation l/l are implemented
in Danish legislation by Act No. 130 of 9 April 1980 on the
Protection of the Marine Environment. According to Section 26 of
this Act the Minister for the Environment may lay down detailed
rules and direct upon the provision and functioning facilities in
the ports for the reception of residues containing oil and
noxious liquid substances, as well as sewage and garbage. Thus
bunker undertakings, undertaking shipping or reception of oil,
undertaking shipping or reception of noxious liquid substances,
and ship repair yards shall establish facilities for the
reception of ballast and tank washing water containing oil or
chemicals, and all ports shall establish reception facilities for
the sewage and garbage.
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