Use of holding tanks in the Med

mithril

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11 Jan 2005
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209
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Lincolnshire
www.barryandjanet.co.uk
On Mithril we have a holding tank into which goes the usual stuff from the heads. It can be pumped out when along side at a pump-out station or pumped out at sea using a permenently fitted Henderson bilge pump.

Question is, what do I do about galley waste? Currently this passes out through the hull via a sea-cock and is dissipated by the sea. However, I now learn that some Eastern Med countries do not even allow galley waste to go over board.

Our holding tank is quite small, holding parhaps a weeks worth for 2 of us but if I need to put galley waste in as well I'll be pumping out daily(ish).

What do others do about this problem? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 

changeman

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22 Mar 2005
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Looe, Cornwall
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In Turkey, you can discharge your tanks if you are more than 3 miles offshore.
We usually pour galley waste down the head when in harbour and then discharge when offshore.
Penalty for fouling the harbour even slightly (would you believe even the discharge from cleaning your teeth) can exceed £1200.
 

trouville

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10 Jun 2004
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crusing with an Arpège
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That does sound extreem, they probably think were all well off,even so fines should reflect the offence, Muslim contries just cant do that.

Pity as is such a wonderful crusing area, and in Turkey the people are very plesent.

I hope youll have a wonderful tim meet great people and never have any problems with admin. Ill watch your web site

Good luck and great sailing
 

HeadMistress

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9 Sep 2003
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If you do cruise into waters where gray water holding is required, I recommend that you NOT send it to the waste holding tank (in fact, US, Canadian and Australian marine safety regs prohibit doing so--even prohibit common venting...not sure about other countries). Reason: e-coli and other nasties from waste can migrate via drains into sinks and from there into your body from hand contact. Consequences can be even worse in the event of a backup. Regulations aside, macerators and manual overboard discharge pumps aren't designed to handle hair and crunchy food particles that can go down a galley sink drain.

So unless you plan to be in waters where gray water holding is required for an extended period, I suggest you figure out a way to collect sink water in gallon jugs or other containers that can be stored aboard till you can legally dump them at sea. The only alternative is a second gray water tank.
 
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