Enhanced environmental measures for the 2023 cruise season - SSB No.: 08/2023

This bulletin has been replaced by Ship Safety Bulletin No. 14/2023.

On April 28, 2023, this Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB) replaces SSB #10/2022 issued on April 12, 2022.

Purpose

This bulletin outlines discharge requirements for cruise ships operating in waters under Canadian jurisdiction in 2023. These measures were originally introduced in 2022.

These measures will help restore marine habitats, further protect Canadian waters, and set the foundation for a regulatory approach in 2023. We have worked with the cruise industry to develop this approach.

Scope

This bulletin applies to authorized representatives for cruise ships (certified to carry more than 100 people and have overnight accommodations) that are:

• Canadian vessels, or
• foreign vessels, that operate in waters under Canadian jurisdiction during the 2023 cruise season.

What you need to know

For the 2023 season, cruise ships are being asked to:

• avoid discharging greywater and sewage within 3 nautical miles of shore, when possible;
• treat greywater with sewage before it is discharged between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore, as much as possible; and
• use an approved device to treat sewage between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore.

These enhanced measures will remain until they become permanent through either an interim order or regulation.

In addition to these measures, Canada also requires ships to comply with requirements in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). These international requirements are implemented in Canada through various laws and regulations including the Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemical Regulations.

Inspections

Transport Canada will continue to inspect cruise ships during the 2023 season.

As your cruise ship’s authorized representative, you should implement these measures as much as possible.
It is also important to note that cruise ships must share all relevant discharge information with Transport Canada, when asked.

For ships that cannot implement these measures

If your cruise ship cannot implement these measures, you (as the authorized representative) must make sure to meet all existing regulatory requirements below.

For this bulletin, sewage means:

• human body wastes and wastes from living animals;
• drainage and other wastes from toilets and other receptacles made to receive or store human body wastes;
• drainage from medical premises like a dispensary or a sick bay via wash basins, wash tubs and scuppers located in such premises;
• drainage from spaces with living animals; and
• other drainage or wastes when mixed with the drainage or other wastes listed above.

Greywater is used water from sinks, laundry machines, bathtubs, shower-stalls or dishwashers. It does not include sewage, or drainage from machinery spaces or workshops.

Table 1: Existing discharge requirements for cruise ships

Substance and distance from shore	Current Regulatory MeasuresFootnote 1	Enhanced Environmental Measures – 2023 Season
Discharge of treated sewage within 3 nautical miles from shore	Cruise ships must treat sewage to fecal coliform counts equal to or less than 250/100 ml within 3 nm from shore. The discharge must not contain any visible solids and must not cause a sheen on the water, discoloration of the water or its shorelines or sewage sludge or an emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or on its shorelines.	Cruise ships certified to carry more than 100 persons and equipped with overnight accommodations must not discharge treated sewage within 3 nm from shore where safely, technically, and geographically possible.
Discharge of treated sewage between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore	Cruise ships must ensure sewage is comminuted and disinfected before discharging between 3 and 12 nm from shore. The discharge must not contain any visible solids and must not cause a film or sheen on the water, discoloration of the water or its shorelines or sewage sludge or an emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or on its shorelines.	Cruise ships certified to carry more than 100 persons and equipped with overnight accommodations should endeavour to utilize an approved sewage treatment device capable of treatment to fecal coliform counts equal to or less than 14/100 ml before discharging between 3 and 12 nm from shore. The discharge must not contain any visible solids and must not cause a film or sheen on the water, discoloration of the water or its shorelines or sewage sludge or an emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or on its shorelines.
Discharge of greywater within 3 nautical miles from shore	Cruise ships built after 2013 and certified to carry more than 500 passengers must treat greywater within 3 nm from shore. Any release of greywater must not result in the deposit of solids in the water or leave a sheen on the water.	Cruise ships certified to carry more than 100 persons and equipped with overnight accommodations must not discharge greywater within 3 nm from shore where safely, technically, and geographically possible.
Discharge of greywater between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore	No specific treatment requirements in place. Any release of greywater must not result in the deposit of solids in the water or leave a sheen on the water.	Cruise ships certified to carry more than 100 persons and equipped with overnight accommodations must treat greywater together with sewage before discharging between 3 and 12 nm from shore to the greatest extent possible. Any release of greywater must not result in the deposit of solids in the water or leave a sheen on the water.

Keywords:

1. Cruise Ships
2. Sewage
3. Greywater

Questions concerning this Bulletin should be addressed to:

Contact us at: Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or Telephone: 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).