subject: Information On Marine Sanitation Systems [print this page] Whenever you have a toilet installed on your boat, yacht, ship or vessel it it called a marine sanitation system. You are required to have a marine sanitation device (MSD) equipped on your vessel. You will find that there are three types of MSDs that are all designed to meet your needs and requirements. If your boat has a portable sanitation system, you are not required to have the MSD since you are able to remove your equipment from the boat. Lets take a look at the the three different systems.
1. Type I is a flow through device for maceration and disinfection for boats that are shorter than 65 feet long. The waste that is produced must have a fecal bacteria count that is lower than 1000 per ml. Also, there should not be any floating solids that can be seen as well. This type of sanitation device disinfects the waste prior to it being discharged into the waters.
2. Type II is also a flow through system that is for boats that are over 65 feet in length. The waste for this one must have a fecal bacteria count that is more than 200 per 100 ml. With this sanitation device, there can be suspended solids but they cannot be more than 150 milligrams per liter. These are pretty similar to Type I systems, but these have a more advanced micro biological treatment set up and it will discharge waste with lower fecal coliform counts as well as reduced suspended solids. These basically work like a miniature septic system.
3. Type III devices are not flow through systems that will work or disinfect systems for any type of vessel. They are mainly holding tanks for any type of vessel regardless of their length. This type of design is used to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage by holding the waste material until the tank can be emptied at a marina or a dock. Since they hold waste instead of passing it through and discharging it, they are not treatment sanitation systems but instead are simple tanks that receive sewage that is flushed from the marine head. The holding tank contains deodorizers and other chemicals. It is these holding tanks that are designed to be pumped out by shore side pump out facilities.
This is just some information about the three types of MSDs to think about for any type of boat. Take the time to research and see which one would be more beneficial for you in the long run. Boating is a very nice recreational activity for the whole family. Make sure you have the proper equipment as well as the proper marine sanitation system for your vessel.
