GONE is the BLUE CARD, ARRIVED is the DAU

Dear mariners, the BLUE CARD application, which was implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and became the target of our intense criticism due to its deficiencies,

has been abolished.

Waste collection operations will continue under the name Maritime Waste Application (DAU) with the changes made.

FROM THE CHAMBER OF SHIPPING TO ITS MEMBERS...

The Chamber of Shipping announced the following to all its members regarding this matter;

“Based on the letter dated 10.04.2020 sent by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Directorate General of Maritime Affairs

sent a letter dated 14.04.2020 to our Chamber regarding the Maritime Waste Application and the attached "Principles Regarding the Transition to Maritime Waste

Application"; stating that in order to eliminate field problems, improve systems and reduce bureaucracy in the management of waste originating from ship operations, the Ship Waste Tracking System (GATS) and Blue Card System

(MKS) applications have been merged under a single roof and developed as "Maritime Waste Application (DAU)", that the pilot

application of DAU was launched on 10.02.2020 in Istanbul and Kocaeli provinces, and as of 01.05.2020, the Ship Waste Tracking System and the old

Blue Card System will be closed and it has been decided to transition to the DAU Application in all provinces, the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs

Within the framework of the "Principles Regarding the Transition to Maritime Waste Application" sent as an attachment to the Directorate's letter, the execution of work/procedures

is requested."

Yes, that's the announcement.

THE MOUNTAIN GAVE BIRTH TO A MOUSE

So, is there any change for amateurs? Progress in a positive direction? Solutions to our problems? 

There is, but in a positive sense, we can say the mountain gave birth to a mouse.

With this application; 

The Ship Waste Tracking System (GATS) and Blue Card System (MKS), which have been experiencing operational problems for years, are being brought together under one roof.

All vessels will conduct their transactions with barcodes from now on. 

Vessels without a blue card will receive a free barcode number. 

Those with blue cards will conduct transactions with the serial number on their cards.

Thus, the obligation to carry a card is replaced by the obligation to know the barcode number.

All waste collection will also be carried out according to this principle.

In this way, the obligation to hold a blue card is eliminated, and the penalty for not having a card, which caused a lot of trouble, will no longer be issued.

The only thing vessel owners need to do during the transition to the system is to know their barcode numbers, or obtain them if they don't have one.

Waste collection facilities will also prepare their infrastructure for the system transition.

The announcement states that in case of system failure, Annex-4 and Annex-5 forms, which were phased out, can be used again.

These forms were meant to document waste collection from ships and boats through records.

However, there is no solution to the absurdity of boats that have remained ashore for a long time or have taken breaks from sailing having to empty their already empty tanks again before going to sea.

By the way, it is worth reminding that, 

In the Coast Guard system, by looking at the boat name, it has been possible for a long time to see whether the boat has a blue card and when it discharged waste. 

This means a Coast Guard boat can check by looking at the boat name from a distance.

BEFORE THE BLUE CARD

One more reminder;

Before the Blue Card system was introduced, Alanya Municipality was implementing a similar barcode system. It was discontinued when the Blue Card application was launched.

In fact, in the chip system that Alanya Municipality applied to commercial day-trip boats, a chip was placed on the boat's waste tank outlet and boats going on daily tours

were scanned with barcodes according to the number of passengers and sailing permits were issued. 

Discharge to the sea was also under control. Even the location where the discharge was made could be determined.

For example; if the boat's waste tank capacity is for 200 people, when it goes sailing with 50 people daily, on the 4th day the barcode reading system would show that 200 people

capacity was reached and a warning would come that the sailing permit would not be issued without discharging waste.

I don't know if there is any sanction to prevent waste discharged into the sea from residential areas without treatment. p>

Is there wastewater treatment? Yes, there is. 

Is the treatment actually being carried out?

As someone who cruises and dives in the seas, I say no, and I continue to rebel against these pretend practices .