EWC Code
Bilge oils from inland navigation
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
200,000 tonnes/year EU ship-generated bilge waste oil
Valorisation Range
€45M port waste reception facility market
Primary Route
Port waste reception and oil recovery
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Get contacts for EWC 13 04 01EWC 13 04 01 is a specific sub-code under EWC 13 04 — Bilge oils. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
Bilge oils arise from the accumulation of seawater, lubricating oil leakage, fuel leakage and cleaning water in the lowest compartments (bilges) of vessels. EU flag vessels and vessels calling at EU ports are subject to mandatory port state control and MARPOL annex requirements. Bilge water is typically 0.1–2% oil content; bilge oil sludge concentrated by oil-water separator systems is typically 30–70% oil content.
MARPOL Annex I prohibits discharge of bilge water with oil content exceeding 15 ppm from ships outside special areas, and 100 ppm from older ships. Oily bilge water not meeting discharge limits must be retained on board and delivered to port waste reception facilities. Port Reception Facility (PRF) Directive 2019/883/EU requires EU ports to provide adequate reception capacity and report waste delivery quantities.
Bilge oil chemical composition reflects the vessel type and operation: cargo vessels generate mineral oil-dominant bilge; fishing vessels generate fish oil-contaminated bilge requiring separate management. Inland waterway bilge is classified separately (13 04 03) from coastal and ocean-going vessel bilge. Composition determines whether bilge oil is suitable for re-refining or requires incineration.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 13 04 01, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Bilge oil and sludge is pumped to port reception facility vessels or shore-based reception tanks under MARPOL delivery procedures. Reception facility operators consolidate bilge oil and arrange onward transport to licensed waste oil processor. Consolidated bilge oil with >20% hydrocarbon content is suitable for re-refinery feed or cement kiln co-processing.
High-grade bilge oil meeting re-refinery acceptance criteria (low water, low salt content) is processed to recover base oil. Marine bilge with high salt content from seawater ingress is directed to cement kiln co-processing as alternative fuel. Calorific value of 25–35 MJ/kg makes bilge oil economically attractive as alternative fuel.
Bilge oil contaminated with cargo residues, cleaning chemicals, biocides or fish oil requiring specialist destruction is incinerated in hazardous waste incinerators. Port reception facilities maintain waste acceptance criteria documentation; mixed or unknown composition waste requires incineration as precautionary management.
These are the established routes for EWC 13 04 01. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Operate port waste reception facilities accepting bilge oil from vessel operators under MARPOL
Re-refine consolidated bilge oil to recover base oil for lubricant blending
Co-process bilge oil as alternative fuel in cement kiln with energy and mineral recovery
Incinerate contaminated or mixed bilge oil not suitable for recovery
Sectors that valorise EWC 13 04 01 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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