Alaska Cruise Ship Sewage and Graywater Rules
Federal rules in 33 CFR 159 Subpart E bar untreated sewage from cruise vessels in Alaskan waters and condition treated sewage and graywater discharge.
Cruise vessels in the applicable waters of Alaska are regulated under 33 CFR Part 159 Subpart E, enacted through Public Law 106-554. No untreated sewage may be discharged (33 CFR 159.307). Treated sewage and graywater may be discharged only while underway at not less than 6 knots and not less than 1 nm from the nearest shore, unless the vessel qualifies for continuous discharge with a 30-day geometric mean not over 20 fecal coliforms per 100 ml and total residual chlorine not over 10 micrograms per liter (33 CFR 159.309).
The full article will cover the sampling and reporting obligations, the Sewage and Graywater Discharge Record Book, the State of Alaska’s own programme, and how the regime compares with MARPOL Annex IV .