Turkey gets tougher on pollution fines

Further to our circular on Pollution fines in Turkey, our Turkish correspondents have advised that pollution fines have been increased by 5.58% on average.

Vessels which are caught repeatedly will be fined much higher than the fines set out the below tariff and may even face detention and vessels discharging dangerous substances can be fined as much as 10 times the value of the fines for petroleum products.

The below table lists the revised fines for each vessel size and type of pollutant discharged.

Petrol and petroleum products discharged into the sea by tankers:

Up to 1,000 (inclusive)   gross tons

TRY 81.78 per GT

Between 1,000 and 5,000   (inclusive) gross tons

TRY 20.40 per GT

Over 5,000 gross tons

TRY 1.96 per GT

Dirty ballast discharged into the sea by tankers:

Up to 1,000 (inclusive)   gross tons

TRY 61.32 per GT

Between 1,000 and 5,000   (inclusive) gross tons

TRY 12.23 per GT

Over 5,000 gross tons

TRY 1.96 per GT

Petrol/petroleum products and dirty ballast discharged into the sea by vessels or any other sea vehicles:

Up to 1,000 (inclusive)   gross tons

TRY 40.87 per GT

Between 1,000 and 5,000   (inclusive) gross tons

TRY 8.14 per GT

Over 5,000 gross tons

TRY 1.96 per GT

Garbage and sewage discharged into sea by vessels and any other sea vehicles:

Up to 1,000 (inclusive)   gross tons

TRY 20.40 per GT

Between 1,000 and 5,000   (inclusive) gross tons

TRY 4.03 per GT

Over 5,000 gross tons

TRY 0.77 per GT

TRY 1 = USD 0.33

Recommendations

Some Gard Members and clients have had aerial photos taken of their vessels by the Turkish authorities as evidence for imposing hefty fines. We therefore advise as a minimum that Members and clients should follow these recommendations:

• The vessel should avoid any ballasting/de ballasting operations when anchored in or transiting Turkish waters and all overboard valves in the cargo and ballast lines should be shut and sealed.

• Deck washing should not be carried out during the vessel’s stay and all deck scuppers to be plugged.

• Discharge of sewage and galley waste should be prohibited during the vessel’s transit or stay in port waters.

• All overboard maintenance work should be avoided - the authorities view paint scrapings or accidental discharge of hull paint as a source of pollution.

• Discharge must be avoided of materials including, but not limited to, paints, oil, bilges, all types of ballast, all types of residues, garbage, dirty water, sewage water, laundry water with detergents, lavatory soap water, shower water, dust, or rust and masters should brief their crews accordingly.

For further information, Members and clients are encouraged to contact the Gard’s Loss Prevention Team on lp@gard.no.

We would like to thank Gard’s correspondents, Vitsan Mümessillik ve Musavirlik A.S., for their assistance in the preparation of this alert.