Steamship Maritime Co. Ltd.
Oyster House 9
East Hill
Colchester
Essex CO1 2QX
England

Date: 03.10.02
Our ref.: 02/31-

Handling of decomposing mink fodder (minced meat)

Dear Sir

The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority refer to your application of 30^th September 2002 on dumping 350 MT of decomposed mink fodder within a five mile radius of the position - latitude 61.30 and longitude 03.45 west. The mink fodder is currently cargo on board MV Anntoro which is a Norwegian flag vessel. The shipping company, Seines rederi, have stated that the current condition of the cargo is such that it represents a health hazard to the people on board.

This type of waste should preferably be incinerated-, composted- or used for biogassproduction. The Steamship Maritime Co. Ltd. has documented that they have contacted several ports which have all refused to accept the cargo. The Steamship Maritime Co. Ltd. has also contacted landward based disposal facilities, but these have either limited capacity or are not suitable as disposal sites for such waste. The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority has also contacted reception facilities in Norway and Denmark, and at the present time there is no possibility for destruction or handling waste of this size and quality (smell and decomposition). The smell from the decomposing waste will be a problem when handling the waste on land.

Dumping is generally forbidden according to the Norwegian Pollution Control Act, and specifically by regulations given concerning dumping from 4 December 1997 section 4. The Norwegian Pollutions Control Authority may however issue a permit to dump the waste in Norwegian waters when it is impossible to bring the waste to a legally accepted landsite.

The Norwegian Pollutions Control Authority has considered the health hazard to the persons onboard the ship as well as the possibilities for disposal on land. Our decision in this matter is to give the MV Anntoro permission to dump 350 MT of decomposed mink fodder in Norwegian waters 20 nm south, off Torungen lighthouse, position

N 58⁰ 00' E 08⁰ 50' . The permit is given under the condition that the dumping site is in deep waters and that the dumping is not in conflict with spawning, nursery, fishing grounds, shipping lanes and other amenity areas. It is a prerequisite that the materials will sink and remain sunk and that plastic materials and pallets are to be retained on board the MV Anntoro and to be delivered for landward disposal at her next port of call. The dumping is to take place under the supervision of the Norwegian Coast Guard.

The permit from the Norwegian Pollutions Control Authority is given under the assumption that the Steamship Maritime Co. Ltd. also has the necessary permits from other authorities when the dumping takes place. The consent on dumping location from the Directorate of Fisheries is enclosed. The Norwegian Pollutions Control Authority has forwarded the application to the Norwegian Animal Health Authority for their consideration and further contact on this matter should be between the Steamship Maritime Co. Ltd. and the Animal Health Authority.

You have the possibility to complain to the Norwegian Ministry of Environment within 3 weeks after receiving this letter. The letter of complaint should be sent to the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority.

Please contact the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority as soon as you know the time of arrival on the dumping site so that we can arrange for the Coast Guard to be there.

Yours sincerely

Vibeke Riis

Hilde Aarefjord

Copy to:
The Animal Health Authority
The Directorate of Fisheries
The County Governor
The Norwegian Coast Guard

Encl:
Consent from the Directorate of Fisheries