Holding Tanks, Med Charter

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cgull

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Just finished second Med charter this year.

Both charter boats had Holding Tanks fitted but not in use. This seems to be the norm. Is the use of them not a requirement. Nowhere did I see any signs saying do not pump out sewage/waste in marinas/anchorages. Charter base had at least 30 charter boats in and no facilities....all that sewage, plus showers, plus cleaning water , no wonder the marina water was murky (and smelly)
 
Depends on where you are. In Turkey you have to use them, but in Greece, no. Problem is twofold. Firstly they are difficult to keep serviceable, particularly the pumped variety, so charter operators do not insist you use them because they add to work. Secondly there are no pump out stations, so they have to be discharged into the sea. The uneasy compromise is to use shoreside facilities wherever possible, including taverna loos and only using the heads when out of harbour.
 
To be pedantic, you do not have to use holding tanks. However, it is an offence to discharge sewage into the sea close to the shore, and you (the skipper) can suffer a substantial fine if you're caught doing so. So it's either a big cork, or a holding tank - if you want to keep your nose clean - so to speak. Or a trek to the shoreside bog.

Your charter company was handing the risk of a fine over to you. Bad practice. Good companies will give you a working holding tank, and they'll tolerate the extra maintenance involved. You'll be instructed to empty the tank only when offshore.
 
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Every time I have chartered or been on a flottilla in Greece the boat has had a working holding tank. On one occassion it became blocked but sorted out that night.

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Exactly the opposite! Every time we have chartered or been on flotilla in Greece there have been no working holding tanks /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Everywhere else, there has /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Perhaps I am very lucky! Certainly had no problems with Neilson's, Sailing Holidays or Sunsail. Thinking of one or two nights, where to put it delicately I required to use the services on more than one occasion, very glad they did have working holding tanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Sunsail said 1 mile off to us. Of the 3 tanks, one had been blocked by lots of paper by previous renters. After the first day this became apparent and we spent several hours cleaning the bilge as the head hose had blown off the tank and was dumping inboard. Fixing it, I noted that the hose was fitted to a stub off the tank that was blunt ended and a sudden reduction from 1.5" to about 1" ID. Not a great idea.
Ben-461
Andrew
 
Different countries, different legal distances (3 to 6nm). But these distances are designed to cater for big boat discharges. Sunsail are (presumably) quoting a practical distance at which:

1. Your quantities will be eaten by the fishes before they reach the shore

2. You won't be seen to be discharging anyway.
 
Having just spent six weeks in the southern Ionian I can't wait until they force the issue and police the use of holding tanks a bit more. We left a few anchorages due to the volume of effluent that was being discharged in the mornings. Enough to put me off my breakfast.
 
We chartered in Italy with The Moorings this year. I was amazed and very disappointed that the boat didn't have a holding tank. The price of a marina berth in Italy is eye watering (40 ft boat €200 per night - if you could get in which you couldn't). We spent all our time at anchor in some very beautiful spots in prime swimming locations with kids playing on the beach. Without a holding tank we were faced with a real dilemma - hold it in, discharge it, or bucket and chuckit later.
Very unhappy with The Moorings.
 
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