Under MARPOL Annex V, what is the required destination for plastics collected from ships?

• A. Direct disposal at sea.
• B. Hold until port reception.
• C. Shore reception facilities.
• D. Burn on deck.

Answer: (C)

Plastics from ships must be kept on board only until they can be offloaded to shore reception facilities. MARPOL Annex V forbids disposal of plastic at sea, so the proper destination for collected plastics is the reception facilities located in ports (shore-based facilities) for proper treatment or disposal. This protects the marine environment by ensuring plastics are handled in controlled, approved facilities. Direct disposal at sea and burning on deck are not permitted for plastics. Holding plastics on board is acceptable as a temporary step, but the required destination is shore reception facilities.