Japan – Environment

① Under the Domestic Law, the boats and ships of less than 100 gross tons are required to discharge the bilge during navigation and after processing the oil to reduce its level to 15ppm or below.
② Under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI, the NOx emission regulation has been in force since May, 2005 for the diesel engines of which output is more than 130kW. ③The Japan Marine Industry Association (JMIA) established a self-regulation to reduce the marine engine exhaust gas in stages, which has been implemented from the 2000 models onward. The 2006 models cleared the 2006 target (equivalent to EPA 2006 regulatory value). The self-regulation will continue to be implemented till fiscal 2010. From the 2011 models onward, a secondary self-regulation on the marine engine exhaust gas (equivalent to EPA secondary regulatory value) will be implemented.
④ For PWC equipment noise, a self-regulation has been implemented in stages to reduce the acceleration noise since 1999 and a secondary self-regulation under ISO14509 Measurement Method will be in place in 2010. Illegal modification of the noise systems is checked and controlled during periodic inspections.
⑤ It is required that the leisure fishing boats of which capacity is 10-99 individuals be equipped with a holding tank as toilet bowl equipment in certain water areas,starting from 2000.
⑥ JMIA established an FRP vessel recycling system, started applying it in certain areas in 2005 and on a fully nationwide scale in fiscal 2008. But this recycle system is not mandated to boat owners.