Holding Tanks

[Joe_Cole]

An article in the latest issue of "Sailing Today" says that it will soon be mandatory to have a holding tank in European marinas and inshore waters. I've heard nothing about this.

Does anyone know if this is true, or do they mean "Continental Europe" (on the basis that UK isn't really European!).

Joe

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[Jimmy20V]

They mean Europe, not good old Blighty!

But as far I was aware, its only Mediterranean Europe that require Holding tanks, and then, only some of them!?!?

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[Metabarca]

Can anyone be more specific: dates, places? It has to happen... but I can't see the pumping out stations appearing overnight here. Plus, of course, it'll mean more dosh... down the pan!

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[tcm]

Re: France, speculation etc

We're in mediterranean France. There is not one single pumpout station in any of the marinas. However, it is vaguley common knowldge that gippy tummies and eye infections of a few kids who play on the beaches aren't helped by raw sewage dumped not very far offshore, of even direct into the marina. But then, so many thousands of people play in the sea that a number will die, have eye infections or get divorced, and not all of these can be blamed on lack of holding tanks.

Note: it is great press to write that holding tanks "are bound to be a requirement" or " willl soon be mandatory" cos of course sounds forward thinking, finger on the pulse. But based on any fact? I think not. And god only knows what the manpower needed would be to enforce and carry out 100% use of holding tanks and pumpouts, at least from a starting point of none at all.

Much more likely is that new boats wil be made with holding tanks insitu as part of the RCD. See? Pure conjecture - I just made that up! Sounds good though, eh?

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[gjeffery]

I was concerned to learn that the Baltic have already introduced this requirement for boats completed, I think after 2000. This is in the Helsinki Agreement and is on the web. I asked for advice omn this forum and the advice from Sweden was that this regulation is not applied.

Some months ago I put the question to Southampton Port Health, they did not know and referred me to the MCA.

I would still like to know the answer, but from a practical perspective, I think it unlikely that pump out facilities will be available for some time, especially for boats on moorings. I think there is one public pump-out in Chichester Harbour, at Itchenor.



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[ccscott49]

Re: France, speculation etc

They should maybe fit holding tanks in the meddy countries first, instead of pumping all/most of their raw sewage out to sea!!

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[Metabarca]

Re: France, speculation etc

I sail mainly in Dalmatia and I've not seen pumping stations there either, nor mentioned in any marina blurb. I know that charter boats have to have holding tanks in Croatia but where are they supposed to 'download'? Montenegro, probably.
As you say, probably there'll be a requirement in the Med for new boats to be fitted with tanks and these to be emptied either on shore or outside a certain limit from the shore. I can't see 'retrofitting' tanks will become compulsory. Frankly, I'd be in favour of this. We've no tide and not much current in these waters, and an increasing number of boats.
I read on another site that one 'direct-dump' boat can produce more bacteria than a small town equipped with a sewage-treatment plant. **** hell! If that's true, we're all bio-terrorists!

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[tcm]

Re: France, speculation etc

ah but it is very very deep, like a couple of kilometres innit , so plenty of room for it to turn into fishfood or whatever. Maybe.

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[ccscott49]

Re: France, speculation etc

Quite right! It is very deep, but not where they discharge the sewage! Like into barcelona harbour!! I've never seen so much fouling on the boat before, due mainly to the rich organic soup around there, same thing seems to happen to most boats left for any length of time around the area, Mine looked like a "sight of special scientific interest" after the winter, I had an entire colony of brine shrimp on my rudder!! The sewage disposal mullet in Barca are humongous! Funnily enough it was the metal parts of the boat which were the worst and they are all bronze. my brother experienced exactly the same thing when he was here??

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[ccscott49]

Re: France, speculation etc

Trouble is, most small towns in the med, dont have sewage treatment plants!!

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[tcm]

Re: cleanup

I hope you'll have a cleanup before you come this way towards france? We don't want any of that nasty spanish gunge spoiling the beuatiful blue water! Oh, and perhaps clean the bottom of the boat too!

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[tony_brighton]

Re: France, speculation etc

Seems to be an option of a) holding tank and discharge when 3M offshore or b) pumping out to a shore station. I'm looking to fit a tank but not sure whether option b) is worthwhile if nowhere has the facilities. Also - are they a standard fitting?

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[tcm]

Re: France, speculation etc

If you mean do they fit standard pipes, then yes, they do. Valve on each loo allows swith of direct discharge or to holding tank. Then, outlet from holding tank is via the never-ever seen deck pupout, or discharge out to sea below waterline.

Oh, and if you haven't got one then i wouldn't fit it unless intent on going to turkey. Which means, i just wouldn't go to turkey, no great loss, though i imagine the sea is very clean, ahem.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: cleanup

Right now the bottom is pristine!! as will be the topsides! Nice and shiny new white with gold lettering and bootop stripe, especially done for my visit to SOF, Oh! and all the saloon has been done, and lots of other things, she will be a picture!! I hope! Even varnished the little dinghy! Can't promise what I'll look like, but I can always hide.

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[tcm]

Re: cleanup

Well, that sounds just about acceptable. However, don't try calling antibes on the vhf with boat "englander" cos they wil say they speak french.

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[Metabarca]

Re: Antibes

...and don't for God's sake use your tender... seeing a 'Little Englander' would bring out the worst Napoleonic tendencies in French officialdom!

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[ccscott49]

Re: Antibes

Hadn't thought of that, maybe I should cancel the arm surgery aswell?

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[johna]

Does anyone have any experience of fitting a RM Toilet Holding Tank as illustrated in the Cruisermart catalogue 2000-2001 page 209. It fits arround the front of the existing toilet and uses the existing pump for discharging to the tank or out to sea. Not sure if it can pump to a shore station or do shore stations suck it out?

Must admit it looks a bit naff but may be an easy short term solution if a quick fix is necessary.

Johna

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[rich]

Re: France, speculation etc

I fitted a holding tank on my 40 year old wooden boat last year and it was a piece of p*ss , (to use the appropriate phrase) When anchored in a beautiful bay with people swimming round the boat, or staying in a marina for a few days , and it's too far to the toilet block in the morning and it's raining anyway, I really don't want to flush it all straight into the surrounding water. I always wait until well out to sea before pumping it out for the tides to disperse. In the med with little tidal flow it might be a bit different, although that's what they told us to do in Greece (yes, I went raggie boating too!


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[Birdseye]

is it not already compulsory for boats in inland waters in the uk?

am sure it will come just as the EC has forced british authorities to stop dumping sewage in the estuaries. mind you, enforcement will vary from the zealotry of scandinavia and holland, to the complete casualness of the third world parts of the EC.

having seen kids swimming in brighton marina just after i had used my (then) sea toilet, i think its a good idea. not expensive - my installation cost me £150 d i y or a weekend in a south coast marina

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