A cargo ship at sea off Rauma. Photo: Finnish Coast Guard
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Starting 1 July, Finland has banned cargo ships from discharging toilet wastewater, scrubber sludge and sulphuric wash water into its coastal waters. The move makes Finland the first country to impose such wide-ranging maritime wastewater regulations.
The Finnish Parliament approved the law in December 2024. Passenger ships have been subject to similar restrictions for years, but this is the first time cargo vessels are also included.
The legislation targets discharges that contribute directly to marine pollution. Toilet wastewater contains high concentrations of intestinal bacteria, suspended solids and nutrients. These nutrients promote eutrophication, a process that depletes oxygen in marine ecosystems and accelerates harmful algae growth, including blue-green algae blooms.
Despite the ban, the law includes transition periods. Greywater from sinks and showers may still be discharged in Finnish waters for nearly five more years. All types of wastewater may also be legally released outside Finland’s territorial waters.
Environmental authorities say the new regulation is an essential step in protecting the Baltic Sea, which suffers from chronic nutrient pollution. Eutrophication remains one of the region’s most severe ecological threats.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
