Section 9 in The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage From Ships) Rules, 2009
9. Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record-keeping.
(1)Every ship of twelve metres or more in length overall shall display placards which notify the crew and passengers of the disposal requirements of Rule 3 or Rule 5, as applicable :Provided that such placards shall be written in the working language of the ships' personnel, and for ships engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other State Parties, shall also be in English.(2)Every ship of four hundred gross tonnage and above and every ship which is certified to carry fifteen persons or more, shall carry a garbage management plan, providing written procedures for collecting, storing, processing and disposing of garbage, including the use of the equipment on board, to be followed by its crew and shall also designate the person in charge of carrying out such plan:Provided that such plan shall be in accordance with the guidelines developed by the International Maritime Organisation and written in the working language of the crew.(3)Every ship of four hundred gross tonnage and above and every ship which is certified to carry fifteen persons or more engaged in voyage to port or offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of other State Parties and every fixed and floating platform engaged in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed shall be provided with a Garbage Record Book, in Form-I.(4)The Garbage" Record Book, whether as part of the ship's official log-book or otherwise, shall -(a)record each discharge operation or completed incineration in English and shall be signed on the date of such incineration or discharge by the officer in charge and also, each completed page shall be signed by the master of the ship:Provided that each such entry shall include date and time, position of the ship, description of the garbage and the estimated amount incinerated or discharged;Provided further that such entries shall prevail in the case of any dispute or discrepancy :(b)be kept on board the ship and in such other places that it shall be available for inspection within a reasonable time;(c)be preserved fora period of two years after the last entry is made thereon;(d)record the circumstances of, and the reasons for, any loss, in the event of discharge, escape or accidental loss referred to in Rule 6.(5)The Central Government may waive the requirements for Garbage Record Books for -(a)any ship engaged on voyage of one hour or less in duration which is certified to carry fifteen persons or more; or(b)fixed or floating platforms while engaged in exploration and exploitation of the seabed.(6)The surveyor or, as the case may be the person authorised under Section 356-6 by the Central Government may, inspect the Garbage Record Book on board any ship to which these rules apply, while the ship is in Indian ports or offshore terminals and make a copy of any entry in that book and also may require the master of the ship to certify that the copy is a true copy of such an entry and any copy so made shall be admissible in any judicial proceeding as evidence of the facts stated in such entries :Provided that the inspection of a Garbage Record Book and taking of certified copy shall be done as expeditiously as possible without causing undue delay to the ship.
