Marine toilet regulations in Europe

[sepharad]

I am having little success in my search for Marine toilet regulations. I have an older boat with a pump out head. No holding tank. Clearly I can't use the thing in a harbor or even too close to shore, that would just be rude.


But where do I find the regulations? I would think it should be easy to locate but I seem to be clueless in my search.

I will be sailing down the coast of Spain and Portugal, through Gibraltar and up to Leucate France.

Could someone either point me in the right direction or just lay down the law for me?

Thank you

[Xlantic]

In Spain, the regulation mirrors Marpol's "Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships"

https://www.transportes.gob.es/marin...ones-de-recreo

Annex IV - Regulation 11 - Discharge of sewage

So, untreated waste can only be discharged more than 12 miles from shore.

Between 3 and 12 miles it can be discharged if macerated and disinfected.

Less than 3 miles you have to hold it in!

[more]

Originally Posted by sepharad

I am having little success in my search for Marine toilet regulations. I have an older boat with a pump out head. No holding tank. Clearly I can't use the thing in a harbor or even too close to shore, that would just be rude.


But where do I find the regulations? I would think it should be easy to locate but I seem to be clueless in my search.

I will be sailing down the coast of Spain and Portugal, through Gibraltar and up to Leucate France.

Could someone either point me in the right direction or just lay down the law for me?

Thank you

in Croatia never . but look around you no police ,cost guard,custom,port autority,helicopter,military plane and go i toilet like other people. or risk who care for couple € when you must go to toilet go.

[meirriba]

As far as I know, there is no genereal EU policy.
Each country has (or has no) policy in this smelly matter

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by meirriba

As far as I know, there is no genereal EU policy.
Each country has (or has no) policy in this smelly matter

And, like most Americans, here I was thinking Europe is a country located somewhere between Spain and Russia. We learn something here everyday.

[Oceanis411]

Hi,
the European Union does not exist, it is a marketing product.
For sailing, each country has its own laws all different and contrasting.
For the French you can take a sailboat without a license, so a Frenchman can go anywhere....
the Italians have a lot of licenses to get with a vexatious and expensive bureaucracy, so to sail where the French travel "only with his boat" , the Italian has a thousand documents and permits on board.
Everyone brings their own state law to the boat, not to mention the messes with flags.
For the license you have your state, but in your boat you put the flag you love, so you'll be surprised how many Poles sail in the Mediterranean, but they are all Italians and French (running away from taxes and bureaucracies of its own flag)

So there's not a "European regulation" for toilet, but more or less everyone looks at what the neighboring country does.
Generally, there is a limit of 3 miles from the coast, to discharge, in France and Italy, that I know, it's the same.

It's better for you to search direct infos on the harbors, because each marina has its own rules (maybe interdiction for mooring without holding tank, even though the nautical law does not prohibit it).

[boatman61]

My only advice is, keep the paper onboard and only let personal waste overboard.. the fish will make short work of it.
1/ paper is easily visible under your boat..
2/ it's bad for marine life..
3/ in marinas use the facilities for solids.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by boatman61

My only advice is, keep the paper onboard and only let personal waste overboard.. the fish will make short work of it.
1/ paper is easily visible under your boat..
2/ it's bad for marine life..
3/ in marinas use the facilities for solids.

That's typical Euro practice.


Which may vary somewhat from the regulations.


Maceration is a good deed here, greatly accelerating the breakdown of waste.

[Oceanis411]

Originally Posted by boatman61

My only advice is, keep the paper onboard and only let personal waste overboard.. the fish will make short work of it.
1/ paper is easily visible under your boat..
2/ it's bad for marine life..
3/ in marinas use the facilities for solids.

It should be the behavior of everyone