Page 55: of Marine News Magazine (May 2016)

54 56

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

Choosing a Suitable VGP Compliant Cleaner

All operators want to avoid ? nes for improper deck washdowns. While options include holding or treating all deck runoff, it is not always feasible or safe for the crew or the environment. In order to meet operational needs, as well as regulatory demands, operators would be wise to seek high performing products that won’t harm coating surfaces, people or the marine environment. These prod- ucts should be non-toxic, phosphate-free and biodegrad- able. When choosing a VGP compliant cleaner, there are several characteristics that you should look for and criteria you should use to guide your decision, including: • Can you con? rm EPA VGP Compliance? Under the terms of its Vessel General Permit, the United States En- vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that all deck wash downs and above water-line hull cleaning re- sulting in discharges be done using non-toxic, non-caustic and phosphate free biodegradable cleaners and detergents. • How frequently are you cleaning? Will this be used daily, biweekly or intermittently?

• What are you cleaning? Review the type of surface (steel deck plates, timber deck lining, specialized coated bulkheads, equipment, machinery, ropes) and the type of compound (oil, lubricant, dirt, dust) you are trying to remove.

• Where are you cleaning? Are there con? ned space requirements? Is it in full sun? Are you protected from the weather?

• How much cleaning product is needed? How large is the surface? • What is the composition of the cleaner? How is this going to be applied? With a brush? With a sprayer? What works best for the crew? Foam? Liquid? Solid? • How much drying time do you need? Does it need to stay on for hours? Does it need to be cleaned immediately? • Is it safe for the crew? Choose one with a neutral pH in order to avoid skin and eye irritation or injury.

Best Practices

The ? rst big step toward being VGP compliant is to shift from petroleum lubricants to EALs for your equipment.

Once in place, you will then need to choose a compliant cleaner for deck washdowns, deck equipment and cargo hold cleaning. To ensure that your vessel is compliant, fol- low these best practices: • Training: This can be in the form of an on-ship demonstration or in a written form so crew can reference it during deck equipment maintenance and washdowns. Draft a step-by-step protocol for deck washdowns and include a laminated copy with www.marinelink.com

MN May16 Layout 52-65.indd 55 4/20/2016 10:40:18 AM