Can one chuck garbage overboard?

[freedom44]

Is there a “directive” of what and what cannot be chucked overboard. ?

I ask this as somebody seems to have altered the general understanding without telling us . This leaves the kids continuously nagging us to do it properly, which is an unusual juxtaposition of the normal direction of the nagging, but is still tedious.

Before I get flamed, my “rules” were:-
• No plastic/ non biodegradable anywhere.
• Cans, properly punctured so they sink, ok in deep water. Not at anchor.
• Bottles ditto
• Food anywhere as long as it is not unsightly, i.e. melon skins floating down an anchorage.
• Obviously no oils etc

I was then told that a can on the sea bed leaves an area of contamination around it which I find hard to believe what with currents. Is this the equivilent of an urban myth?

Pls do not get me wrong. I am as keen as anyone to protect our environment, but sometimes some of the “facts” given out by the environmentalist eco warriors need to be checked to reality.

Finally, if we are to bin all the stuff we previously chucked overboard, where is it all going ( and by what method of transport) At many of our cruising destinations it is just picked up and dumped over the cliff edge ( As in Alderney!

 

[Gordonmc]

I got earned a reputation for telling crew off when he flipped a bottle-cap overboard.
Cans, bottles etc belong in the rubbish bag for disposal, preferably recycling, ashore.
Mind you... as a diver I don't want to see this sort of rubbish on the seabed and
I am not persuaded by the suggestion cans and bottles provide shelter for some creatures.
As to food scraps... fair enough as long as the stuff sinks or is taken quickly by gulls.

 

[BrendanS]

http://195.173.17.24/fin/modules/Library/assets/industrynews/documents/garbage%20table.doc

 

[Swagman]

We only chuck over what will biodegrade - irrigardless of guidelines inferring bottles etc are OK if xx miles from shore.
IMHO when diving, it is not nice to see man made waste floating on the bottom (unless of course its a sunken galleon complete tihe treasure chest). Not sure what it may do nor not do to the environment - it just looks sad.
JOHN

 

[Guest]

No ... except as defined by clear rules ...

They stipulate what materials and size of the pieces etc. All ships now carry a data sheet displayed regarding this ...

Suggest a google for Ship waste disposal or similar .... as you will find definite rules.

To be general - for most yotties who do not venture offshore ... so stay in the inshore reference of the regs - the answer is nothing goes over ..... basically. Yes there are a few things allowed ... but by time you separate them etc. you might as well bin the lot and save for the shore-bin.

 

[areid12]

just to be on the safe side, i wouldnt chuck anything over board, i guess we've all seen plastic bottles, and beer cans floating on the water.

i'd like to think sailing folk were a bit more environmentally friendly, than most..

 

[srp]

I remember a nice little display in the Yarmouth (IW) Harbour Masters office showing how long various things last underwater - seem to remember fag-ends and tea bags lasting 2 years. Best to take it all ashore unless you're feeding gulls.

 

[tangomoon]

Many moons ago scallopers found a huge bed of scallops in Cardigan Bay. They worked day and night and some paid for their boats and their houses as the bonanza continued. Some years, approx 6 I was on a scalloper working those beds and we often discoveredrusty tins and other rubbish in the bags of the dredges - so I reckon nothing goes o/board except what you have eaten or drunk

 

[Viking]

I remember reports from one of the early Whitbreads The rule was to keep all rubbish on board, only to arrive in Rio, have the rubbish track pick it up, then it drive down the pier to a gabbage boat. Then they watch it go out to sea and dump it.
On a recent 'Discovery' program it was reported that has the currents flow in the Pacific all rubbish finally arrives on the out laying islands NW of Hawaii. Tons and tons are collected every year.

 

[Guest]

washed up ....

When you pass ambrose light and head on to the hudson river ... the beach you pass ... which is near to the Church used in Godfather when kid is christened ... and the killing spree is in full swing .... the beach was notorious years ago for loads of used syringes / medical stuff and other debris being washed up from the Garbage barges coming out of NY Harbour to dump at sea ...

Was told the story by a number of NY Pilots when I used to run Fuel up the river .....

 

[billcowan]

Re: washed up ....

Just to put this in context:

Our NuLabour government, in its quest to protect us from the 'terrorists' allows the MOD to test fire depleated uranium munitions into the Irish sea on a regular basis, just for quality control testing.

Then there are the whole battleships sunk to provide 'artificial reefs' for the divers.

So I dint feel so bad flipping the odd bottle cap.

 

[Cruiser2B]

Re: washed up ....

Depleted uranium isn't used anymore. And artificial reefs are also there for the benefit of sea-life. Mind you if the water wasn't so polluted, then coral reefs could grow...

 

[tazzle]

I still cringe in embarassment at this ...

Many years ago, just after the end of the Falklands war, a mate and I hired the Thames sailing barge 'Ena' for a birthday party. Moored in Ipswich wet dock (just a working dock in those days), it was an excellent all-nighter.

At dawn, I organised the few remaining bodies on litter patrol. We filled four large plastic sacks with tins, bottles and other waste ready for me to take ashore. When some particularly dim clot called Clive decided it would be helpful to tip the contents overboard. As I stood on the deck with my jaw hanging, utterly speechless, and surveyed the floating filth that surrounded us, I could have quite happily chucked Clive in after it. And very nearly did.

Since then I've always been scrupulous about taking rubbish ashore. And making sure EVERYONE on board knows not to chuck anything over the side ...

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Sadly, no-one would notice the extra rubbish in the wet dock..... its filthy anyway..... quite unpleasant on occasions....

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Many years ago

[/ QUOTE ] Things have changed. I can remember a good few years ago while sailing round Alderney seeing where they tipped all the island's rubbish over the cliff. We have also seen the rubbish bins around the marina in Cherbourg taken to the end of the wall and tipped into the sea. Also you always knew when you were crossing the shipping lanes in the channel by all the rubbish floatihg there.

 

[Twister_Ken]

So what do you do with cherry stones, surplus to requirement after a fruit break on a summer's day?

 

[Bodach na mara]

Re: washed up ....

[ QUOTE ]
Depleted uranium isn't used anymore

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell that to the people who live around Luce Bay in Galloway. There are tons of it in there.

 

[Slow_boat]

Re: washed up ....

Any leftovers or other food and drink goes over the side or ashore asap for hygene reasons. The exception is banana skins. I am told that the salt water cures the fibres which inhibits degrading to a periond of years.

Where is a bit of a difficult one but basicaly far enough out that it will be broken up, sunk or eaten before the tide can take it ashore. Same goes for the heads.

 

[Emjaytoo]

Re: washed up ....

I can't see what the debate is all about. You take your rubbish home, the same as you do if you are out in the car or out in the street - end of story!

 

[ronsurf]

Re: washed up ....

My rule would be nothing overboard.. that hasn't been in your body first! This may apply to bottle tops, but not to melon skins or milk bottles. As a surfer I spend a lot of time on beaches and it's sad to see the rubbish littering the coast. A lot of people blame fishermen, but in my experience not many fishermen use conditioning shampoo and shower gel while at sea. Why on earth anyone would think it OK to chuck stuff overboard is beyond me - you brought it out - you take it back!