when and where to dump the black tank ?

[Portofino]

Boats port bound large and small for what ever reason can ask for a pump out for the marina .
La Napoule does it and Loano does it .
Theses are “ blue flagged “ status ...... it’s some sort of environmental adherence code ?
You black tank should have an external deck filler for this .

 

[BartW]

Bart, you need to tell your guests....

"If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down."!

thats a good one , will do ;-)

 

[BartW]

Boats port bound large and small for what ever reason can ask for a pump out for the marina .
La Napoule does it and Loano does it .
Theses are “ blue flagged “ status ...... it’s some sort of environmental adherence code ?
You black tank should have an external deck filler for this .

In Porto Montenegro they had that pump out service and it was foc,
we asked the poor guy once, and during our 3 year stay, I don't think I saw him more than 3 times.
its so much easyser to "push" that button during the night, and don't bother
The water from porto montengro is open to the surrounding bay, so its not as dirty as you would expect from a busy marina.
The management there is very keen on environment and clean ness of the marina.

I'm quite sure that in Italy anybody cares ..

 

[BartW]

How about a custom made Tek Tank https://www.tek-tanks.com/custom-tanks/?

many years ago we had one made by a german competitor, (see the rebuild tread)
I can have a new one custom make a bit bigger, perhaps 40..50 liters more,
but when I can make a GRP(?) box in that space, partially using the boat bottom, and some existing frame sides, I can gain a lot more space and get perhaps more than 400liters in total..

 

[rubberduck]

Only ever in open sea. Thames can be a problem.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

many years ago we had one made by a german competitor, (see the rebuild tread)
I can have a new one custom make a bit bigger, perhaps 40..50 liters more,
but when I can make a GRP(?) box in that space, partially using the boat bottom, and some existing frame sides, I can gain a lot more space and get perhaps more than 400liters in total..

I look forward to the thread!

 

[Hurricane]

I sympathise with Bart.
With a full boat, the holding tank fills very quickly.
Much quicker wit our new Planus (like Tecma) toilets.
The old Vac units (ugh) didn't use anything like as much water.
Thankfully, our marina have a mobile pump out facility.
We have a full boat at the moment and, at the time of writing this post, we are actually waiting for a pump out.
Much better when we are at sea because we just pump out when we can - not within the 12 or 3 mile limit - just when away from anchorages etc.

 

[markc]

I think I have mentioned this before, but when we got a pump out at our marina (it's free) the chap reckoned it was only used a couple of times a year and there's 1600 boats in the marina. Would be interesting to know what the environmental impact is from pumping out in the marina as the marina water is very clear with plenty of fish around. I guess the fish all crap in the sea too

 

[TonyR123]

I think my tank gets full every 2 days when boat is full. I have heard that Portals are getting a lot stricter on dumping in the marina and could fine people. I have an ecomar system now and while I would get one again it doesnt always work smoothly. The min indicator never goes out now so I tend to run it manually.

 

[julians]

I haven't read all the comments but surely you don't pump the tank out into either the marina or the anchorage, if so that's pretty disgusting. Either get the tank pumped out by the marina into their tanker or tanks, or go miles from shore and pump into the sea.

 

[MrB]

Much better when we are at sea because we just pump out when we can - not within the 12 or 3 mile limit - just when away from anchorages etc.

I'm shocked you do that because (to me) it looks like Spain are one of the strictest with pollution within their waters so I guess it's not policed if you are getting away with it? I wonder what the fines are? The same rules apply to Sweden and they fine on the spot.


[h=5]Spain[/h][FONT=&quot]Spain has holding tank requirements which together with their pollution legislation, essentially mean that vessels cannot discharge untreated sewage within Spanish territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The Spanish legislation is ORDEN FOM/1144/2003, 28 April which for anyone who speaks Spanish can be found at www.fomento.es and an unofficial translation of the legislation is also available.[/FONT]
[h=5]Greece[/h]

 

[BruceK]

I'm shocked you do that because (to me) it looks like Spain are one of the strictest with pollution within their waters so I guess it's not policed if you are getting away with it? I wonder what the fines are? The same rules apply to Sweden and they fine on the spot.

Shocked? You cant have been boating for long. Police? How on earth can you police something like that? ( returning to port and having some official note your black water tanks are empty but AIS shows you never went more than 3 miles offshore - No guv, we dont use the loo at sea. We make everyone hang over the guard rails instead. Technically you havent emptied any vessel waste tanks then have you?)

 

[MrB]

Shocked? You cant have been boating for long. Police? How on earth can you police something like that? ( returning to port and having some official note your black water tanks are empty but AIS shows you never went more than 3 miles offshore - No guv, we dont use the loo at sea. We make everyone hang over the guard rails instead. Technically you havent emptied any vessel waste tanks then have you?)

Wow there sausage i'm not judging anyone at all and definitely not Hurric.!!!! I'm just shocked people knowingly or not knowingly break the law with pollution in a foreign country given the current climate on the subject. I guess their fines could be bottomless. They passed the laws so must try and uphold them somehow.

This is what Turkey do and it is being rolled out.
[h=5]Turkey[/h][FONT=&quot]Discharge of any kind may be considered illegal. A black water tank has therefore been a practical necessity in Turkey for many years. New rules have been coming into force in some areas of Turkey (such as the Mugla District) over the last few years which require vessels to carry a Blue Card. If the rules are enforced to the full all black and grey water will need to be collected and pumped out ashore; the Blue Card will be used to monitor the amount of waste water deposited ashore to ensure holding tanks are pumped out rather than emptied into the sea. [/FONT]

 

[Portofino]

I,am with Mr B on this .
It’s being responsible. Obviously kinda voluntarily it’s just not socially acceptable to dump it in the marina or nice anchorage because you can and get away with it .
Incidentally tactics like waiting until nightfall doesn’t really work as it leaves a horrible stench for those down wind .Ok it can’t be seen but your nose notices it .
Some anchorages mostly Med national parks I,ve been in have had seasonal workers .
Student types in rib with a tabard ( save the seahorse or something? ) -on come alongside with a goodie bag of various local environmental bumph and asked us to check the toilets are turned to the tank .One of the leaflets usually says something along the lines of its prohibited to dump the tank or not use a holding tank to anchor in [ insert name ] place .
You can’t just await nightfall and then dump the full tank in a place like that ?

However having said that ...... stepping down from the pulpit ,some friend of ours regularly bare boat charter and the seacocks on the charter boats are permanently fixed to sea .Ie tge tank is bypassed . Presume punters knacker it somehow or don’t understand it or a combo of both leading to a technical call out and rows over repair costs ?
So the Co,s avoid this by bypassing the tank completely.

They then have the same issue as the guy on the other thread ........ swimming in 5hit @ a nice anchorage this time there own parties .
And nasty smells in a busy marina while the foods being dished up for the group meal in the open cockpit at night when the winds gone .Somebody unwittingly goes and does a No 2 while chef is dishing up .....urgh !

They ( blokes a seasoned boater ) enquired about being able to switch the bog cocks to tank .... to be told , “ tanks been removed “ or “ punters over fill it and clog it “ or “ punters burn out the discharge pump “ forget its on etc ?

On a 54 ftr with 6/8 adults for a week it all gets a bit personal....
“ I fancy a few laps swimming round the boat ..... can no one go for 5 hit .”
Or “ I want a No 2 can you all come out of the water “

So put yourselves in the charter operator shoes trying to make hay in the season with a 4/6 hr window on changeover day .
One can see the logic of permanently bypassing a tank ...... straight discharge.

 

[BruceK]

Wow there sausage...........]

I'm not having a crack at you, I'm just saying it's near impossible to police even with the bluecard. I'm also of the opinion that once a mile or so out and you are running a mascerator that actual volume of solid particles dispersed is so incredibly small in ppm that the chance it has any impact other than gag reflex is diminishingly small. What is more I wonder how far out to sea their own sewage lines go? I know it's treated and UV irradiated but even so, ours along the Welsh coast go out barely 300 yards and I can point out a couple that do this from Blue Flag Beaches..... and I kid you not.

here's one

 

[[2068]]

To anyone that regularly swims between Horse Sand Fort and the Nab Tower, I apologise in advance.

Putting things into perspective, Southern Water regularly pump a few millions of gallons of raw sewage into Langstone Harbour when we get really heavy rain - I suspect the additional effluent from boats is comparatively small, but it’s still a good idea to pump out as far offshore as practically possible. Or use a pump out.

I wouldn’t pump out into the marina.

.

 

[MrB]

I'm not having a crack at you, I'm just saying it's near impossible to police even with the bluecard. I'm also of the opinion that once a mile or so out and you are running a mascerator that actual volume of solid particles dispersed is so incredibly small in ppm that the chance it has any impact other than gag reflex is diminishingly small. What is more I wonder how far out to sea their own sewage lines go? I know it's treated and UV irradiated but even so, ours along the Welsh coast go out barely 300 yards and I can point out a couple that do this from Blue Flag Beaches..... and I kid you not.

here's one

View attachment 80005

I don't know your neck of the woods but in Pembrokeshire most of those pipes are emergency run-offs and unfortunately rain water is mixed with sewage (combined sewers). However as you say it is treated before it enters the system with [FONT=Gotham A, Arial, sans-serif]tertiary, ultra-violet disinfection process, to protect bathing water quality. The water is rated in Pembrokeshire as excellent. I spent half my life surfing the beaches between Tenby and St. Davids and can only say the water quality was excellent.

The thing I don't get is why pollute anchorages in proximity to others (and children, pets etc.) and marinas when you can pump out a few miles off the coast (If the law allows) or in in a pump out station? I 100% don't get why you would discharge in a marina with pump out facilities??? Use the marina facilities instead of the boat loo's surely if you have small holding tanks? Bart pointed out he pumps out in Porto Montenegro even though there is a free pump out service?? Why, it's illegal?


[/FONT]"Waste WatersBlack and grey water pump-out is available freeof charge. It is prohibited by Montenegrin Lawto discharge any liquid waste within the marina.The harbour master will be notified in the event"

[FONT=Gotham A, Arial, sans-serif]That is taken from the ports own handbook!

I want to reiterate, I am not having a pop at anyone as this is maybe the done thing and something that has been done for a very long time but personally I don't get it.

I'll jump out of this one now because I don't want to upset anyone or cause offence.[/FONT]:encouragement:[FONT=Gotham A, Arial, sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=Gotham A, Arial, sans-serif]


[/FONT]

 

[Hurricane]

I'm shocked you do that because (to me) it looks like Spain are one of the strictest with pollution within their waters so I guess it's not policed if you are getting away with it? I wonder what the fines are? The same rules apply to Sweden and they fine on the spot.


[h=5]Spain[/h][FONT="]Spain has holding tank requirements which together with their pollution legislation, essentially mean that vessels cannot discharge untreated sewage within Spanish territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The Spanish legislation is ORDEN FOM/1144/2003, 28 April which for anyone who speaks Spanish can be found at [URL="http://www.fomento.es/mfom/lang_castellano/"]www.fomento.es[/URL] and an unofficial translation of the legislation is also available.[/FONT]
[h=5]Greece[/h]

Really - shocked?
You should see what the yachties do.
We are absolute angels in comparison.
For example have you ever wondered why yachties go for an early morning swim downstream of their boats?
Some say they are washing - but I know different.

 

[MrB]

Really - shocked?
You should see what the yachties do.
We are absolute angels in comparison.
For example have you ever wondered why yachties go for an early morning swim downstream of their boats?
Some say they are washing - but I know different.

I was shocked by people openly breaking the law. I'm now shocked Yachties don't use their loos and choose to dive in and "free dump" at will every morning!!! I thought saily boats had loos and holding tanks too, who knew?

Again, if you guys think it's ok then who am I to judge.

 

[BruceK]

Mr B, harbours and estuaries dont have pump out facilities. If they did I may be inclined to use them. I pump out at sea, not 3 mile off admittedly, that's a long way off and never in anchorages bar the minor discharge that happened while undertaking mascerator repairs. My kids swim there too. Marinas I full heartedly agree with you. Nothing more disgusting than seeing bits of toilet paper stuck to the pilings and floating about between the boats as someone discharges.