Notices to Mariners

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Disposal of time expired pyrotechnics

09 November 2009

Marine Services

Orkney Islands Council, Marine Services do not accept any time expired pyrotechnics and disposal of such in any waste reception facility provided by Marine Services is strictly prohibited.

 

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) via HM Coastguard will only accept out of date pyrotechnics from non-regulated pleasure vessels and small independent fishing vessels. Commercial organisations should make their own arrangements with specialist hazardous waste disposal companies or contact the pyrotechnic manufacturer / supplier who may provide a disposal service.

HM Coastguard is not responsible for the disposal of time expired pyrotechnics and accepts them at its own discretion and subject to storage availability.

The local HM Coastguard MRCC (Shetland Coastguard) should be contacted to arrange for possible disposal from non-regulated pleasure vessels and small independent fishing vessels.

Boat owners and operators should be aware of the following issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MGN 287 (M+F) Disposal of Out of Date Pyrotechnics: -

1.   It is an offence to fire distress signal pyrotechnics on land, in harbour or at sea for either testing purposes, practice or as fireworks (whether the pyrotechnics are out of date or not).
 
2.   It is also an offence to dump pyrotechnics at sea.
 
3.   Out of date pyrotechnics should be landed ashore as soon as possible after the date of expiry for safe disposal.



 

Further information is available from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding disposal of time expired pyrotechnics at www.mcga.gov.uk .



Captain Nigel Mills

Director of Marine Services

Harbour Authority Building

Scapa