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MONITORING DEVICE INTRODUCED
TO REGULATE MARINE DUMPING
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TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1992
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT AN AUTOMATIC SELF-MONITORING DEVICE (ASMD) WHICH WILL ENABLE CLOSER SURVEILLANCE OF MARINE DUMPING OPERATIONS IN LOCAL WATERS IS TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR.
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EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY 2, 1993, ALL BARGES AND VESSELS ENGAGED IN MARINE DUMPING OPERATIONS, WILL BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO INSTALL THE ASMD EQUIPMENT.
THE NEW REQUIREMENT WILL BE INCLUDED AS A LICENCE CONDITION, AND ONLY THOSE VESSELS EQUIPPED WITH THE ASMD WILL BE AUTHORISED FOR MARINE DUMPING OPERATION.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (WASTE AND WATER CONTROL), MR JOHN BOXALL, SAID THE EQUIPMENT WOULD ENABLE THE EPD TO APPLY MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND LESS LABOUR INTENSIVE SURVEILLANCE OF MARINE DUMPING AND EVERY DUMPING OPERATION WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY RECORDED.
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AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMPANY MANAGEMENT WHICH IS ENGAGED MARINE DUMPING OPERATION, CAN MAKE USE OF THE RECORDS PRODUCED BY DEVICE TO REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BARGE OPERATORS, WHO IN WILL BE ABLE то LOCATE THE POSITION OF THEIR VESSELS FROM THE EQUIPMENT SIGNALS AND THEREFORE ENSURE THAT THE WASTE IS DUMPED AT THE DESIGNATED SPOIL GROUNDS.
THE DEVICE MAINLY CONSISTS OF A DRAFT SENSOR WHICH MONITORS THE CHANGE IN DRAFT, A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM TO INDICATE THE TIME, DATE AND LOCATION OF THE VESSEL, AND A DATE RECORDING UNIT.
THE DATE COULD BE RETRIEVED FROM THE DATA RECORDING UNIT AND LOADED ONTO A COMPUTER OR A VIDEO PLOTTER FOR DISPLAY ON THE SCREEN.
THE SOFTWARE WILL ENABLE THE EPD TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LICENSEE AND INDENTIFY SHORT-DUMPING INCIDENTS.
IN CASE SHORT DUMPING IS IDENTIFIED, THE EPD WILL TAKE FOLLOW-UP ACTION INCLUDING PROSECUTION, LICENCE REVOCATION OR DELISTING OF THE VESSEL.
MR BOXALL SAID: "THE EPD INTENDS TO RETRIEVE THE DATA ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AROUND 100 BARGES ARE ENGAGED IN MARINE DUMPING OPERATIONS."
UNDER THE DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975, SUMMARY CONVICTIONS FOR ILLEGAL MARINE DUMPING ACTIVITIES ARE LIABLE FOR A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND/OR SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.
SINCE THE EPD TOOK OVER THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN APRIL 1986,
A TOTAL OF 151 CONVICTED PARTIES HAVE BEEN RECORDED.
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