The retrofitting deadline for yachts with on-board toilets expires on 1 January 2005. According to the 1st Baltic Sea Protection Ordinance, which is based on the Helcom Agreement, from then on all boats must be equipped with a restraint system and a connection for deck suction (see also YACHT 06/04, page 72).
For many owners, this would mean a great deal of effort, the costs of which may exceed the current value of the vessel.
As the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) announced verbally, pleasure craft that are a maximum of 10.50 metres long or 2.80 metres wide, as well as all pleasure craft built before 1980, are to be exempt from the obligation to retrofit holding tanks. However, this regulation is subject to coordination between departments, federal states and associations.
The regulation remains in place for all other recreational craft that sail the Baltic Sea and have a toilet with an outlet to the outside on board.
At least that is what the DSV announced in its latest publication. YACHT will continue to report.
