MARPOL Compliant Boat Cleaners – The Complete Guide

MARPOL Annex V regulates the discharge of substances into the marine environment, including cleaning agents used during routine vessel maintenance.

Under the Convention, cleaning agents and additives may only be discharged where they are not harmful to the marine environment (Non-HME).

This page explains what that means in practical terms for marina operators, contractors and private boat owners.

What Does MARPOL Annex V Actually Say?

MARPOL Annex V establishes a general prohibition on discharge into the sea except where explicitly permitted.

Cleaning agents may be discharged only if they meet Non-HME criteria.

The discharge test is based on classification - not dilution, not intention and not perceived harmlessness.

What Does Non-HME Mean?

A product is considered Non-HME when:

It is not classified as harmful to the aquatic environment under GHS / CLP frameworks
It does not meet criteria for Marine Pollutant classification
It does not contain components that trigger aquatic toxicity thresholds

Where discharge into marina waters is foreseeable and repeated, hazard classification becomes operationally significant.

Why This Matters in Marina Settings

Many marinas are:

Semi-enclosed basins
Low hydrodynamic exchange
High vessel density
Subject to routine wash-down activity

In these environments, repeated low-volume discharge may create cumulative exposure conditions.

Understanding product classification is therefore central to responsible operation.

The Compliance Gap

In practice, MARPOL Annex V is often associated with commercial shipping rather than leisure craft.

However, the Convention applies to all vessels unless explicitly exempted.

Routine cleaning activity intersects with this framework more often than many realise.

You can explore this further here:

Aquatic Hazard Classification and Product Transparency

Many products marketed for marine use carry aquatic hazard classifications.

Hazard classification does not automatically imply catastrophic impact.

However, where discharge is foreseeable, classification informs operational suitability.

Our screening research can be explored here:

(Link to hazard classification blog)

The Ecological Context

Modern marine science increasingly focuses on:

Mixture toxicity
Chronic exposure
Trophic cascade effects
Ecosystem resilience

In enclosed marina basins, these dynamics are particularly relevant.

Oceans Assured™ Non-HME Boat Cleaners

The Oceans Assured™ range has been formulated specifically to align with MARPOL Annex V discharge principles.

Each product is designed to:

Avoid aquatic hazard classifications
Support marina-safe discharge
Provide transparent compliance documentation
Enable audit-ready operational practice

Explore the full Oceans Assured™ Non-HME range here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MARPOL compliant boat cleaner legally required?

Under MARPOL Annex V, cleaning agents may only be discharged into the sea if they are not harmful to the marine environment (Non-HME). Where discharge is foreseeable, classification becomes operationally relevant.

Does biodegradable mean MARPOL compliant?

No. Biodegradability alone does not determine whether a product meets Non-HME criteria. Hazard classification under GHS/CLP frameworks determines aquatic environmental status.

Does MARPOL apply to leisure boats?

MARPOL applies to all vessels unless specifically exempted. In practice, Annex V discharge provisions apply across commercial and leisure sectors.

What makes a boat cleaner Non-HME?

A Non-HME cleaner does not carry aquatic hazard classifications and does not meet Marine Pollutant criteria under international classification systems.