最近几个月来，协会已经看到加纳海事管理局（GMA）对涉嫌排放废水造成污染处以罚款的几起案例。就所有这些案例中的排放物而言，均由经国际海事组织批准的污水处理系统处理过。根据《防污公约》附则四第11.1.2条的规定，该污水处理系统必须排放不含可见漂浮固体的污水，也不得引起周围水域变色。然而，当GMA检验员抽取废水样本后，经目测检查后发现污水已明显变色，该船也因此受到罚款。罚款总额约为4万美元。协会驻当地通代建议，虽然这种罚款在理论上可能存在争议，但上诉成功的可能性很低且经济上是不可行的，因为在任何此类上诉结果出来之前，船舶存在被延误的风险。
详细信息请参阅附件。
Fines in Takoradi for sewage pollution
In recent months the Club has seen several cases where fines have been imposed by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is respect of alleged pollution from waste waters discharged. In all cases such discharges were from IMO-approved sewage treatment systems which under MARPOL Annex IV Regulation 11.1.2, are required to discharge effluent with no visible floating solids and not cause discoloration of the surrounding water. However, when the GMA surveyor has taken samples of the effluent discharge this was found to be discoloured under visual examination and the vessel has been fined accordingly. The quantum of the fines imposed have been in the region of US$40,000. The Club’s local correspondents advise that whilst such fines may in theory be disputed, the likelihood of success is low and not economically feasible since there is a risk of the vessel being delayed pending the outcome of any such appeal.
See attached file: Fines in Takoradi for sewage pollution.pdf
《IMSBC规则》修正案将于2019年1月1日生效。本文中，Brookes Bell LLP的Penelope Cooke解释了即将生效的修正案会对载运煤类货物的船舶产生何等影响。有关《IMSBC规则》修正案的全部详情，请参阅国际海事组织MSC.426(98)号决议。
《国际海运固体散货(IMSBC)规则》中，将煤描述为一种由非晶形碳和碳氢化合物组成的天然固体可燃物质。尽管煤以易燃性和自热性闻名，然而某些煤类货物也有易于液化的特点。所有煤类货物都具有B组化学特性，例如可能发生自热或排放甲烷；除此之外，即将生效的《IMSBC规则》修正案中提到了煤类货物被认定为A组（即易于液化）的标准。因此，煤类货物有可能需要取得与其他A组货物（例如精矿、镍矿石和铁矿粉）相同的TML证书和含水量证书。
