[2574]
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Can anyone advise if holding tanks are compulsory (or presently planned to be compulsory) in any European (including Scandinavian) salt water areas?
thanks
rob
thanks
rob
Holding tanks - where compulsory now?
- Thread starter [2574]
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Helina
Well-Known Member
They are compulsory in Finland.
Oliveoyl
Well-Known Member
Compulsory in Turkey
davidbains
Well-Known Member
Also in Croatia, but I have never been asked for a demonstration.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
It is safe to assume that holding tanks are compulsory (or will be shortly) in the whole EU area and Turkey. The Turkish Coast Guard can be especially vicious and demand that you also pump grey water into the holding tank. Don't even think of pumping out if you see a Turkish official in the neighbourhood.
macd
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure they're not actually compulsory in Turkey, although they jump very hard on discharges of grey or black waste.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
That amounts to the same thing, doesn't it? Assuming holding tanks are mandatory is a pretty safe option.
macd
Well-Known Member
No, it doesn't.
As for assuming things are mandatory...well, that's a pretty long and disagreeable piece of string you're advocating. Why live in a maritime 1984 before it actually happens?
As for assuming things are mandatory...well, that's a pretty long and disagreeable piece of string you're advocating. Why live in a maritime 1984 before it actually happens?
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
I think it is a good idea to assume holding tanks are mandatory, firstly because they probably are or will shortly be, and secondly and most importantly it is a way for us yotties to act responsibly to protect the very environment that we so much enjoy using. Nothing can spoil a beautiful anchorage experience more thourougly than a fellow boat without a holding tank.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
How does it protect the environment by delaying the transfer from but to sea, as there arn't many pump out stations around!
But agree it protect the 'local' environment around an anchorage or harbour.
But agree it protect the 'local' environment around an anchorage or harbour.
macd
Well-Known Member
Couldn't agree more that bespoiled anchorages are unpleasant. But let's not forget that some boats don't have loos at all (and fitting a holding tank on many others would be immensely difficult). Or that sailing qualifications, use of life-vests, etc etc are compulsory in some countries, so are we to err on the side of 'assumption' for all those, too? Surely the big issue isn't what's mandatory or not, but what is a considerate and seamanlike way to behave?
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
Yes, seems like we agree: it is considerate and seamanlike to protect your anchorage environment. So install a holding tank! Yes, I know it can be difficult on some boats, but do you really want your kids to swim around a boat without a holding tank?
SeaVenture
Well-Known Member
Too many boats in Mexico did not have holding tanks and pumped right through into the harbor. Yuck. Nothing worse than walking down the dock--or dinghying around--and seeing floaties.
We run everything to a holding tank and then through an Electra-Scan (Ruritan's updated LectraSan). This purifies the effluvient so that it's less environmentally harmful than what comes from most on-shore treatment centers.
We run everything to a holding tank and then through an Electra-Scan (Ruritan's updated LectraSan). This purifies the effluvient so that it's less environmentally harmful than what comes from most on-shore treatment centers.
Bejasus
Well-Known Member
just as importantly, if you have a holding tank(which we do), how many places are there in the EU/Med with pump out facilities?
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Not many, none in Barcelona, or lots of other places around us. But of course you can hold it in the tank, until well out at sea, macerate as discharged, the sea and fish will do the rest. By the way, it's not the poo that does the real harm to the enviroment, it's the untreated waste from washing machines (you dont have one of those, do you?) etc. Plus of course those pillocks that clean their marine loos with bleach!
Bejasus
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
it's the untreated waste from washing machines (you dont have one of those, do you?) etc. Plus of course those pillocks that clean their marine loos with bleach!
[/ QUOTE ]
Not yet, but working on it? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nice to see you back on line.
it's the untreated waste from washing machines (you dont have one of those, do you?) etc. Plus of course those pillocks that clean their marine loos with bleach!
[/ QUOTE ]
Not yet, but working on it? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nice to see you back on line.
pernoll
Member
I'm surprised that so many cruisers "give a sh.." in caring for the environment. Why not be more offensive and start cleaning up our anchorages without being forced to. Why set the standard for your swimming pool at lowest level? I understand that you, being in tidal waters, can manage.
Personally I got mad when my neighbour, in a wonderful anchorage at Meganisi, dumped his gunk just before our morning swim, in the clear, blue water. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Personally I got mad when my neighbour, in a wonderful anchorage at Meganisi, dumped his gunk just before our morning swim, in the clear, blue water. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Captain_Cava
Active Member
[ QUOTE ]
it is considerate and seamanlike to protect your anchorage environment. So install a holding tank!
[/ QUOTE ]
I certainly agree with you for the Med. Maybe not quite so important on the Atlantic coast? I'm not sure.
I'm currently looking to buy something like a Moody 42 or 44, or possibly a Beneteau 44, and take it to the Med this year. Everything I look at, either has no holding tanks (even boats currently in the Med!!), or they have ones of just 40 or 50 litres capacity. Is that big enough?!!!
Also, should we think about chemical treatment and maceration? That sounds like even more valuable space taken up....and even more things to go wrong.
I so agree (sorry about the teenage grammar) with Lady Jessie about being environmentally responsible and also staying ahead of the inevitable future legislation....but if I'm finding it difficult on a "typical" 44 foot boat, how do you manage on a Sweden 39?
it is considerate and seamanlike to protect your anchorage environment. So install a holding tank!
[/ QUOTE ]
I certainly agree with you for the Med. Maybe not quite so important on the Atlantic coast? I'm not sure.
I'm currently looking to buy something like a Moody 42 or 44, or possibly a Beneteau 44, and take it to the Med this year. Everything I look at, either has no holding tanks (even boats currently in the Med!!), or they have ones of just 40 or 50 litres capacity. Is that big enough?!!!
Also, should we think about chemical treatment and maceration? That sounds like even more valuable space taken up....and even more things to go wrong.
I so agree (sorry about the teenage grammar) with Lady Jessie about being environmentally responsible and also staying ahead of the inevitable future legislation....but if I'm finding it difficult on a "typical" 44 foot boat, how do you manage on a Sweden 39?
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
It is not really difficult to be careful about your anchorage environment; just make sure you have a holding tank. That is pretty straightforward, is it not? The holding capacity is simply a function of how long you want to be stationary in one place. 40-50 ltrs is fine for one night. Any longer and you need more. Don't expect holding capacity to be a function of boat lenght; it is a function of design. My boat (as well as many other blue-water cruisers) have a big holding tank to cater for those nice anchorages where you hang for many days. I would not think that anybody wants to swim in a sewage.
The reason our UK cruisers seems to have a different view here might be their experience with the mucky waters around the British isles where you don't see what you are swimming in anyway. The tide also helps. It is a very different experience in crystal clear waters in the Med, as posts above have very clearly stated. I cannot state it more clearly; to not have a holding tank in the Med is not seamanlike and not considerate.
The reason our UK cruisers seems to have a different view here might be their experience with the mucky waters around the British isles where you don't see what you are swimming in anyway. The tide also helps. It is a very different experience in crystal clear waters in the Med, as posts above have very clearly stated. I cannot state it more clearly; to not have a holding tank in the Med is not seamanlike and not considerate.
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifLikewise. on our narrow ended, old fashion 38 footer we have a 16.5 gal holding tank under the port saloon settee.
We find with four adults on board that will do us for about three days.
We have a manually operated heads. Some of the electric heads we have seen on other boats seem to use an awful lot of water to flush the loo - which of course fills up the tank quicker.
Fortunately there are plenty of pump out stations on the Chesapeake Bay - which is just as well as it's a long haul to the open sea where we can macerate and pump out. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
We find with four adults on board that will do us for about three days.
We have a manually operated heads. Some of the electric heads we have seen on other boats seem to use an awful lot of water to flush the loo - which of course fills up the tank quicker.
Fortunately there are plenty of pump out stations on the Chesapeake Bay - which is just as well as it's a long haul to the open sea where we can macerate and pump out. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif