Holding tanks

[gjeffery]

Does anyone have any information on the developing requirement for holding tanks in UK waters?

I know that the Helsinki Agreement imposed very strict requirements in the Baltic. Does anyone have any direct knowledge of what is really happening in the Baltic? Do the local boats all conform and are there sufficient pump-outs, even in distributed anchorages, to eliminate the need to discharge tanks into the sea?

Any help on this would be appreciated, as I am about to drill the hull of my new boat to fit a marine wc

 

[gunnarsilins]

Baltic

Beeing based in Stockholm I can inform you that nothing really is happening in the Baltic. In Sweden there are some larger marinas with pumping out facilities, but they are still far apart.
At the moment I would say thet most boats does not even carry a waste tank, and those which also have a fitting for shoreside emptying are easely counted.
So I beleive nothing really will happen in several years - but there´s no doubt that in the future discharge into the sea will illegal.

 

[Jacket]

I've spent the last couple of summers sailing in the Baltic, and didn't even realise that there were any special requirements for pumping out.

Most boats seem to pump waste directly into the water, even in harbours where people are swimming. On top of this, 'Bucket and chuck it' is still fairly common due to the number of small boats suck as Folkboats.

Most harbours seem to have emptying points for chemical toilets, but only a few larger harbours seem to have facilities for pumping out holding tanks.

Do you know what the requirements of the Helsinki agreement are? I'd be interested to know, as I'm currently trying to decide whether to repair my marine loo (No holding tank- boat too small) or ditch it and replace with a chemical loo.

Personally, I'm a great bucket fan, but I guess its not very environmentally freindly, and also it seems to scare crew off!

 

[wayneA]

<QUOTE>"small boats suck as Folkboats."</QUOTE>

Folkboats aren't that bad ;-)

Wayne

 

[gjeffery]

Thanks, that is helpful. My (imperfect) understanding is that the Helsinki Agreement prevents discharge from boats but that it applies only to boats completed after 2000. The full text is available on the web.