This special circular updates the Members in connection with the above subject.

In our previous special circular No.13-009 dated 3 September 2013, we had advised that cargo hold wash water from holds previously containing hazardous solid bulk cargoes could be discharged into the sea outside special areas in certain circumstances.  Since the meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (“MEPC”) on 22 April 2016, however,  cargo hold wash water from holds previously containing hazardous solid bulk cargoes may not be discharged into the sea outside special areas at all. Kindly refer to Paragraph 3.2.7. of the attached papers.