2013 Vessel General Permit (herein after, 2013VGP) for discharges of pollutants incidental to their normal operation of vessels, published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (herein after, EPA) on March 28, 2013 will become effective on December 19, 2013. This will replace the 2008 Vessel General Permit (herein after, 2008VGP) which is currently enforced.
The vessels which intend to navigate within 3 miles from US territorial waters except recreational vessels are subject to the 2013VGP.
The 2013VGP incorporated fish hold effluent to its coverage and made more stringent regulations for the vessels entering Great Lakes.

Also, remarkable points added to the 2013VGP are described as follows.

Remarkable points added to the permit:

1) Ballast water monitoring
Ballast water numeric discharge limitations and implementation schedule which are aligned with the requirements of USCG rules has been established. In addition to USCG requirements, in case of using ballast water treatment system, monitoring requirements like functionality monitoring, applicable sensors' calibration monitoring, Effluent biological organism monitoring and residual biocide and derivative monitoring for using active substances etc. in treated water are added to ensure that the ballast water treatment system is working correctly. Also, records of the sampling and testing results are required to be retained on-board for at least 3 years in the vessel's recordkeeping documentation.

2) Bilge water monitoring
New build vessel which the keel is laid after 19 December 2013 and greater than 400 gross tons, that may discharge treated bilge water into the waters must sample and analyse the discharges in every year. Bilge water effluent must be monitored at least once in a year in accordance with 2.2.2.1 of 2013VGP. Also, records of the sampling and result of analysis are required to be retained on-board for at least 3 years in the vessel's recordkeeping documentation. The oil content of the effluent should not exceed 15ppm.

(To be continued)