The bilge is the area below decks where a mix of water, rain or condensation combines with oil and grease from the vessel’s engines, generators as well as other detritus such as paint particles, micro fibres and micro plastics.
It can contain a harmful cocktail of pollutants, including:
- Oil and diesel
- Detergents, cleaning chemicals and compounds from sunscreens, soaps and shampoo
- Microplastics and microfibres
- Heavy metals such as copper, zinc and lead
