Publishing department: Ministry of Transport Column: Policy interpretation date: 2026-10-08 (URL path date)
original: https://www.mot.gov.cn/gongkai/zcjd/202610/t20261008_4225532.html
Recently, the Ministry of Transport announced the newly revised "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Environment Pollution by Ships and Related Operations" (Ministry of Transport Order 2026 No. 17, hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will be effective from November 1, 2026. In order to implement the work well, the interpretation is as follows:
Since the promulgation of the "Regulations" in 2010, it has played an active role in preventing and controlling pollution of the marine environment by ships and related operating activities. On March 12 this year, the "Ecological Environment Code" was promulgated and came into effect on August 15. At the same time as the "Ecological Environment Code" was implemented, the "Marine Environment Protection Law" and the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law" on which the "Regulations" were based were simultaneously abolished, and the relevant systems were improved and incorporated into the "Ecological Environment Code." In order to implement the "Ecological Environment Code" in a timely manner, the "Regulations" need to be modified accordingly.
The first is to increase the management requirements for the prevention and control of pollution caused by new fuels from ships. With the development of new energy-powered ships, there are more and more new fuel supply and reception operations such as natural gas, methanol, ammonia energy, etc., but related fuels may still cause pollution risks after entering water bodies. Therefore, this revision brings the supply and reception operations of other fuels other than fuel oil into the scope of supervision.
The second is to supplement ship material management requirements. In view of the fact that the use of hazardous materials by ships will cause direct harm to the marine environment, the "Ecological Environment Code" clarifies that ship materials comply with national regulations on the prevention and control of ship pollution of the marine environment, and have passed inspections and other requirements. The "Regulations" will be detailed and implemented based on actual conditions.
The third is to improve the requirements for the discharge and operation management of ballast water and sediments. The "Ecological Environment Code" has made principle provisions on the discharge of ballast water and sediments, and has proposed monitoring, monitoring, truthful recording and preservation of their discharge and operation activities. The "Regulations" have been detailed and implemented accordingly.
The fourth is to strengthen the management of ship cleaning cabins and other operational activities. The current "Regulations" focus on regulating ship cleaning tanks, gas purging, and cargo hold cleaning of large oil tankers in port waters. Considering that ships carrying bulk liquid pollution-hazardous cargo are engaged in cleaning tanks, gas purging, and replacement, they have a greater risk of pollution and are high-frequency operations. In order to minimize possible harm, the "Regulations" specify that their operating areas should be away from densely populated areas. Navigation-intensive areas and other requirements.
According to the "Regulations on the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Ship Recycling" regarding the supervisory responsibilities of ship recycling, the "Regulations" further clarified the ship dismantling activities that the maritime administration agency is responsible for supervising as ship dismantling on the water.
The administrative review and approval time limit is further shortened, and the review and approval time for the ship's regular load declaration is adjusted from 7 days to 5 working days, and the review and approval for the ship's transfer order operation of bulk liquid pollution hazardous cargo is adjusted from 2 days to 24 hours, so as to better serve the administrative counterparts and continue to improve the quality of maritime services.
Mainly based on the provisions of the Ecological Environment Code, corresponding additions and deletions were made, and some administrative penalty provisions were adjusted.
Relevant policy documents: Provisions of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Environment Pollution by Ships and Related Operational Activities (Order of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China 2026 No. 17)