Alabama Boaters Environmental Protection & Responsibility 4

Question 1

What is the legal limit of oil content in bilge water that may be discharged overboard in US coastal waters?

Accepted Answer

15 parts per million (ppm)

Answer

MARPOL regulations limit overboard discharge of bilge water to 15 ppm oil content, and only outside 3 nautical miles.

Question 2

What is the purpose of absorbent bilge pads on a recreational boat?

Accepted Answer

To absorb oil and fuel in the bilge so pollutants aren't pumped overboard

Answer

Absorbent bilge pads soak up petroleum products in the bilge, preventing oil-contaminated water from being pumped overboard.

Question 3

When fueling a boat, which practice best prevents fuel spills into the water?

Accepted Answer

Fill the tank slowly, use an absorbent collar on the fill nozzle, and don't top off the tank

Answer

Slow filling, using an absorbent collar, and leaving room for fuel expansion prevents spills and overflow into the water.

Question 4

What is a 'gray water' discharge, and how is it regulated on recreational vessels?

Accepted Answer

Wastewater from sinks and showers; it is generally allowed overboard but prohibited in NDZs

Answer

Gray water from sinks and showers is generally not regulated under federal sewage rules, but is prohibited in official No Discharge Zones.

Question 5

How far from shore must a boater be to legally dump garbage (excluding plastics) into the Gulf of Mexico?

Accepted Answer

At least 12 nautical miles from shore

Answer

Under MARPOL Annex V, certain food waste may be discharged 12+ nm from shore; most other garbage requires 25+ nm.

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