The discharge of oil, fuel and oily waste poses a threat to the
marine environment. There are a number of regulations in place
to prevent oil pollution. Discharge of oil is prohibited and all
possible measures should be used to prevent accidental spills.
New Zealand is a party to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, the
International Convention on Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
Annex I includes regulations for the prevention of pollution by
oil. Oil and petroleum products must not be discharged anywhere
within New Zealand’s territorial waters or within the Exclusive
Economic Zone. The only exception to this is where the discharge
has the purpose of avoiding, remedying or mitigating an oil
spill or for saving life at sea. Chemical oil dispersants may
not be used anywhere within New Zealand’s territorial waters or
Exclusive Economic Zone without prior approval from Maritime New
Zealand. Oily wastes such as bilge water and machinery waste can
only be discharged if the dissolved hydrocarbon content is less
than 15mg of