First of all, you as a vessel owner are the one who is in charge to make sure that your boat is safe to use and complies with the federal guidelines of the U.S. – and international maritime laws, where applicable. These rules cover a wide range of areas, including the safe handling and discharge of garbage and waste at sea.
Pollution of the seas is an issue that affects the entire planet, and really stringent laws have been passed with the purpose of precisely defining what can and what cannot be discharged into the oceans. Regulations are being changed and updated regularly, hence it is your duty to keep abreast of these changes and make sure your vessel is in compliance.
It would be a great idea to keep yourself updated with the most recent MARPOL placard PDF released by the U.S. Coast Guard. This document is a very useful guide of the current requirements, thus avoiding you from paying high fines and, what is more important, saving the waters that we all depend on.
What MARPOL Placards Refer To
The acronym MARPOL represents marine pollution, and it defines the prohibitions and requirements that the U.S. Coast Guard has the power to enforce in this respect. The rules are aimed at defining waste management on ships, in such a way that garbage and waste should be handled and disposed of safely and correctly.
The law forbids in almost all instances the discharge of garbage or waste in any form into the ocean. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the exact requirements that concern your vessel. The Coast Guard is always changing and updating the regulations, and you can find the most recent documents by going to their official website.
Staying in Compliance
Vessel owners, as per MARPOL regulations, are required to prominently exhibit official placards that provide an overview of the present pollution prevention instructions. A MARPOL placard is available from the Coast Guard in PDF format, which not only shows the exact text that must be on the placards but also gives details on the locations where the placards must be posted for easy visibility to the crew and passengers.
It is not legally allowed to display these placards if you do not have them in your possession—noncompliance may result in the issuing of heavy fines and other punishments. By having the correct signage on board, it is not only you that benefits, but the federal government and our waters also benefit from it.
Where to Get Placards
At Vessel Placards, after having transitioned through the MARPOL placard PDF and determining that you require new placards or just replacements to be up to date with the current regulations, you can find us. We are a team dedicated to the making and supplying of every type of vessel placard required for compliance.
Feel free to check out the complete selection right on our website, place your order from the comfort of your home, and then sit back while we make the placards exactly how you want them. When you get our products, you can rest assured that the necessary information is being communicated to the correct part of your vessel in a proper manner.
