12
Chapter 2
Immediately notify the USCG if your vessel discharges oil
or hazardous substances in the water. Call toll free 1-800-
424-8802. Report the following information: location,
source, size, color, substances and time observed.
No vessel may intentionally drain oil or oily waste from
any source into the bilge of any vessel. A bucket or bailer
is suitable as a portable means of discharging oily waste.
GARBAGE DISCHARGE
The act to prevent pollution from ships places limitations
on the discharge of garbage from vessels. It is illegal to
dump plastic trash anywhere in the ocean or navigable
waters of the United States. Also, it is illegal to discharge
garbage in the navigable waters of the United States,
including the Great Lakes. The discharge of other types
of garbage is allowed outside certain specifi ed distances
from shore as determined by the nature of that garbage.
United States vessels of 26 feet or longer must display in
a prominent location, a durable placard at least 4” x 9”
notifying crew and passengers of discharge restrictions.
USA vessels of 26’ or longer equipped with a galley and
berthing must have a written Management Plan describing
the plan for collecting, processing, storing and discharging
garbage, and designate a person to carry out the plan.
EBIRB
It is recommended that you carry
communication gear such as a
VHF-FM and/or HF transceivers
set up for your operating area.
Also, cell phones are useful in
many coastal areas. Be sure to
carry extra batteries. Also, mainly
for offshore vessels, EPIRBs are
designed to quickly and accurately
alert rescue forces, indicate an
accurate distress position, and guide units to a distress scene.
These devices operate from satellite signals sent to a ground
station where the signal is downloaded. The downside
is that they are relatively expensive but they are reliable
even when other communications have been exhausted.
Category 1 and 11 EPIRB’s used in American waters must
be registered with NOAA. Category 1 is an automatic
deployment type and 11 is manually activated. Another
Category called a “B” EPIRB or “Mini B” is currently
being phased out.
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