New law to improve waste reception at ports

The government brought amendments to the Act on Environmental Protection in Maritime Transport on improving waste reception in ports with the view to encourage the recreational and commercial vessels to dispose of their waste regularly at ports.

Following the amendments, the authority will regulate ship-to-ship transfers of noxious and hazardous cargo and fuel deliveries. Previously, only transfers of oil cargo were regulated.

The President approved the amendments proposed by the government on June 23, which entered into force on 1 July, said the Ministry of Transport and Communications in a press release on Thursday.

A significant change is that, from now on, coastal and inland marinas with between 25 and 49 berths are also required to receive waste from vessels and draw up a waste management plan.

Previously, the requirements applied to marinas with at least 50 berths. With these changes, the regulations will apply to hundreds more ports.

In addition, the Act on the Security of Certain Ships and Associated Port Facilities and on Monitoring Maritime Security, the Ship Register Act, the Act on the Technical Safety and Safe Operation of Ships and the Act on Marine Equipment were amended as of 1 July 2021.

The regulation will reduce littering in the Baltic Sea and Finland's inland waters as well as the discharge of plastics and nutrients into the marine environment.

The amendments concern small ports in particular, such as marinas for recreational craft with more than 25 berths, fishing ports, and ports used by connecting ferries and water buses.

The regulations on commercial shipping remain largely unchanged, with the exception that waste reception requirements at commercial ports are specified.

The amendments will bring five key changes to waste reception in ports.

The changes included, all ports should have the capability to receive waste from vessels using the port, home ports are required to have reception facilities for oily and hazardous waste, mixed waste and human waste products, the obligation to receive waste is extended to fishing ports and ports used by connecting ferries and water buses, all ports must draw up a waste management plan for a period of five years instead of the current three years and from now on, commercial ports are required to also receive biowaste, paper, cardboard and other municipal waste.