Magic pipe
Encyclopedia
A magic pipe is a surreptitious change to a ship's oily water separator
, or other waste-handing equipment, which allows waste liquids to be discharged in contravention of maritime pollution
regulations.
The pipe may be improvised, aboard ship, from available hoses and pumps, to discharge large volumes of waste directly into the sea. As ships are often required to keep records of waste and its treatment, magic pipe cases often involve falsification of these records too.
In the United States, magic pipe cases often attract large fines for shipping lines, and prison sentences for crew; this reflects the severe impact of pollution and the fact that magic pipe cases often involve coordinated deception. Cases are often brought to light by whistle blowers. In December 2010, the United States Coast Guard
announced that it was considering more severe penalties for magic pipe offenders.
Oily water separator
An oily water separator is a piece of shipboard equipment that allows a vessel's crew to separate oil from bilge water before the bilge water is discharged overboard.Bilge water is an almost unavoidable product in ship operations...
, or other waste-handing equipment, which allows waste liquids to be discharged in contravention of maritime pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
regulations.
The pipe may be improvised, aboard ship, from available hoses and pumps, to discharge large volumes of waste directly into the sea. As ships are often required to keep records of waste and its treatment, magic pipe cases often involve falsification of these records too.
In the United States, magic pipe cases often attract large fines for shipping lines, and prison sentences for crew; this reflects the severe impact of pollution and the fact that magic pipe cases often involve coordinated deception. Cases are often brought to light by whistle blowers. In December 2010, the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
announced that it was considering more severe penalties for magic pipe offenders.