Have just had my Beneteau 311 head "approved" by the Alabama Marine Police in Mobile. I got the macerator installed in the new boat to empty the holding tank thinking that I was getting a type I MSD. Am using West Marine's blue fluid. Was told by the officer that even though my tank and macerator are pro forma a type I MSD, I was only "approved" as a type III (holding tank with Y-valve locked). When pressed, the reply was, "that was what we were told by the Coast Guard briefing officer." It seems that the requirement is for some kind of chemical to kill the coliform bacteria (hereafter, "bugs"). West's fluid contains a "quaternary ammonia compound," from the Material Data Sheet. The Marine Police agreed that an Electro-San unit, which electrically decomposes the sea salt molecules into sodium and chloride ions, the latter of which kill the bugs, is a type I MSD. Apparently the ammonia compound in the blue juice is a nitrogen-rich fertilizer causing some kind of digesting action on the sludge in the tank and hoses, thus deodorizing them. Digesting action is the mode of operation of a type II MSD. My question is, how much 5% sodium hypochlorite bleach would I have to use per gallon of waste to chemically ensure the killing of the coliform bugs, and thus claim a type I MSD? Why is this so important? Because next year, or the year after, they'll be back claiming that there are NO approved type I MSD's in Alabama waters, and therefore they can get a NO DISCHARGE DESIGNATION for all Alabama waters, just like Rhode Island and Chesapeake Bay.