California Clean Coast Act

The State of California Clean Coast Act comes into effect on 1 January 2006 and prohibits incineration onboard oceangoing ships operating within three miles of the California coast. The law also prohibits release of hazardous or other waste, sewage sludge and oily bilge water into marine waters of the state. If such release occurs, the owner or operator must, within 24 hours, notify the State Water Resources Control Board. Upon departure from its first port or place of call in California in 2006, master, owner, or operator of an oceangoing ship must maintain on board information regarding the ship, its grey water and black water systems, and California port of call information. The information must also be communicated to the State Lands Commission. The term “oceangoing ship” means a private, commercial, government, or military vessel of 300 gross registered tons or more calling on California ports or places.