17 December 2025

A turning point for leisure marine: New MARPOL Annex V Guidance and Oceans Assured™ Initiative announced

The leisure marine industry has taken a significant step forward in understanding and applying global anti-pollution legislation, following the release of new industry-focused guidance addressing the practical implementation of MARPOL Annex V.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) has been in force since the 1970s and remains one of the most important global frameworks for protecting the marine environment. Annex V of MARPOL, formally titled the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships, applies to all vessels operating in the marine environment, regardless of size or type. This includes leisure craft, commercial vessels, platforms, pleasure yachts, and other floating units.

MARPOL Annex V establishes comprehensive requirements designed to prevent garbage and operational waste from entering the sea. While often associated with commercial shipping, its scope extends directly into everyday leisure marine operations, including routine cleaning, maintenance, and the discharge of operational wash water.

Following consultation with colleagues within ICOMIA and discussions with representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Peter Wallbank, Technical Director of August Race, has produced new guidance for the Leisure Marine Industry, developed in accordance with MARPOL Annex V and the 2017 Guidelines for the Implementation of Annex V (resolution MEPC.295(71)). The guidance focuses specifically on cleaning agents and additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water, an area where practical interpretation has historically varied across the leisure marine sector.

The guidance addresses the realities of day-to-day marine operations. Marinas and boatyards host contractors carrying out valeting and maintenance work, and boat owners frequently clean vessels on the berth. In both cases, wash water and chemical runoff often enter marinas directly. Similar considerations apply to treated bilge water and other operational wastewater discharges. While rarely viewed as pollution events in isolation, these routine activities can have a cumulative impact on water quality, local ecosystems, and aquaculture when non-compliant products are used.

The new guidance is intended to improve clarity around these practical scenarios, supporting greater awareness of operational obligations and helping reduce uncertainty across the sector.

Reflecting on the importance of collaboration in global maritime regulation, Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, has emphasised the value of shared progress:

Alongside the release of the guidance, British Marine and ICOMIA member August Race has confirmed that the first quarter of 2026 will see the launch of its Oceans Assured™ initiative. Oceans Assured™ is a fully comprehensive range of MARPOL-compliant, non-harmful-to-the-marine-environment (Non-HME) valeting, maintenance and operational products applicable across all marine sectors.

The initiative is supported by an industry-first digital compliance platform, designed to provide practical tools and transparent technical information at the point of use. Through the platform, users will be able to compile and submit health and safety documentation, use a vessel-checker tool to identify which additional areas of MARPOL legislation may apply to their specific boat and access full life-cycle assessment (LCA) reports, compliance certificates and additional verified data sets for each Oceans Assured™ product.

With this new approach we aim to bridge the gap between international regulation and everyday marine operations, supporting more consistent, evidence-based environmental decision-making across the leisure marine industry.

Peter Wallbank Oceans Assured™ Technical Director

The new guidance is available to download from the compliance platform at www.august-race.com