MIKAELLA JOY M.
GARNER OCTOBER 9, 2022
BSNAME 11-A1
MIDTERMS REVIEWER:
Protection of Marine Environment (MARENV)
MARPOL 73/78 CONVENTION
• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main
international convention which covers preventing marine pollution of the marine environment
caused by ships from operational or accidental causes.
• It is a combination of two treaties adopted in 1973 and 1978 which were updated by amendments
through the years. For the Protocol of 1973, it was adopted on 02 November 1973 at the IMO,
but it did not yet enter into force.
• In response to a spate of tanker accidents in 1976-1977, the Protocol of 1978 was adopted at a
Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention in February 1978 and absorbed the parent
convention. Furthermore, the combined protocols entered into force on 02 October 1983.
• MARPOL 73/78 (Annexes I-V) was ratified in the Philippines on 2001.
• MARPOL Annex VI instruments of accession has been set to IMO Secretary General on 24 April
2018.
OBJECTIVE OF MARPOL 73/78
• The main objective is to reduce the harmful materials that pollutes the ocean and marine
environment. To achieve this, the Convention and its Annexes contain requirements to control the
accidental or deliberate discharge of substances such as oil, chemical and garbage. It also sets
incineration requirements.
6 ANNEXES OF MARPOL 73/78:
Annex I: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Oil
(entered into force on 02 October 1983)
• Focuses on the prevention of pollution caused by oil from
operational measures as well as from accidental
discharges. The discharging of oily mixtures to the ocean is
allowed but it should comply with the discharging policies.
All the important operational events related to oil residues,
storage, and other oil related matters should be listed in
an oil record book.
• Special Areas: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea,
Red Sea, “Gulfs” area, Gulf of Aden, Antarctic area, North
West European Waters, Oman area of the Arabian Sea,
Southern South African waters
Annex II: Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk (entered
into force on 06 April 1987)
• Deals with the transport of noxious liquid substances delivered in bulk products and the discharging
of liquid residues with noxious liquid substances. It includes a general prohibition on proper
discharging of these residues. Lastly, all activities done on board related to harmful substances
shall be written into a cargo record book.
• Special Area: Antarctic Sea
Annex III: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in
Packaged Form (entered into force on 01 July 1992)
• Distinguish marine pollutants from less harmful cargoes through putting clear marks on
them, to be packed and brought on board ship that would minimize accidental pollution. The
carriage of harmful substances on the ship is permitted except in accordance with its provisions.
Annex IV: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships (entered into force on
27 September 2003)
• Controls pollution of the sea due to sewage which its discharge into the sea is prohibited except
when the ship has the following: operation an approved sewage treatment plant or discharging of
comminuted and disinfected sewage using an approved system at more than three nautical miles
from the nearest land.
• Special Area: Baltic Sea
Annex V: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (entered into force on
31 December 1988)
• Contains provisions to prevent pollution caused by garbage from ships with different
requirements based on the different types of garbage to be disposed. All of garbage related
operations should be recorded in a garbage record book.
• Special Area: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, “Gulfs” area North Sea,
Antarctic area (south of latitude 60⁰ south), Wider Caribbean region (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Sea).
Annex VI: Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships (entered into force on 19 May
2005)
• Aims to reduce air pollution from ships by reducing the release of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), ozone-depleting substances (ODS), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from shipboard incineration, reception facilities, fuel oil quality, energy
efficiency design of ships, and ship energy efficiency management plan (SEEMP), which affects
public health, destroys the ozone layer, and the marine environment.
• Emission Control Areas: Baltic Sea (SOx) (NOx), North Sea (SOx) (NOx), North American ECA
(SOx and PM) (NOx), United States Caribbean Sea ECA (SOx and PM) (NOx).
MAIN ELEMENTS OF MARPOL RELATED TO PORT RECEPTION FACILITIES
MARPOL ANNEXES REGULATION FOR
In loading ports, ship repair yards, bunkering ports.
Annex 1: Oil
Applies to ships with machineries, not just oil tankers
In ports and terminals an adequate reception needs to be present
Annex 2: Noxious Liquid for cargo residues from compliance with Annex II and in ship repair
Substances ports where repair of NLS-tankers can take place.
Applies to ships carrying certain types of chemicals
Annex III: Harmful Substances Harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form; does not
Carried by Sea in Packaged Form require the provision of reception facilities
Ports and terminals in all areas and in Special Areas in particular
Annex IV: Sewage used by passenger ships.
Applies to all manned ships
Each party undertakes to ensure the provision of adequate facilities
at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage without causing
Annex V: Garbage undue delay to ships.
Applies to all manned ships.
Ozone depleting substances, equipment and materials; residues
from exhaust gas cleaning systems.
Annex VI: Air Pollution
Applies to all fueled ships.
THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO)
WHAT?
• A United Nations specialized agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the
prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. Also, to support the different
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UNESCO, especially SDG 14 or life below water.
• IMO was established to set standards for a safe and secure international shipping and
prevent marine pollution from ships.
• IHS Maritime (formerly known as Lloyd's Register-Fairplay) issues IMO number to vessels.
• The original name of IMO was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization or
IMCO. But the name was changed in 1982 to IMO.
WHEN? WHERE?
• 1st state to ratify the convention is Canada in 1948. Philippines joined last 1964
• The first meeting of IMO was conducted in 1959.
• The IMO headquarters is at London, United Kingdom last 1959.
• It is an organization that sets global standard for the environmental performance of shipping
industry which is safe, secure, fair and effective.
WHY? (PURPOSE)
• Main role: to create a regulatory framework for shipping industry. IMO is committed to provide
institutional framework for a green and sustainable maritime transport system.
• It measures all matters and aspects in international shipping, such as ship design,
construction, equipment, manning operation, and disposal.
• IMO was made responsible for ensuring that the majority of conventions were updated and
in developing new ones when needed.
HOW MANY?
• There are 175 member states of IMO, which includes 173 UN member states and three
associate members.
IMO MODEL COURSE
• The OPRC Model Courses provides training courses to address all aspects of oil spill planning,
response and management which are designed and developed by an international group of experts
from governments and industry.
IMO ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
• Assembly- The highest Governing Body of the Organization, which consists of all member states.
• Council- It is the Executive organ of IMO under the assembly, which is responsible for managing
the work of the organization.
• Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)- The highest technical part of the organization which consists
all the member states.
• Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)- The MEPC is empowered to consider any
matter within the organization about preventing and controlling pollution from ships.
• Sub-Committees under MSC and MEPC:
o Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW)- deals with the people behind
shipping such as training and certification and guidance addressing issues.
o Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)- has a key role in casualty analysis and issuing
lessons learned from marine incidents.
o Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR)- deals with all related
activities to navigation and communication, approval of ships directing measures and ship
reporting systems.
o Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR)-responsible in all matters about preventing
marine pollution which covers all annexes of the MARPOL Conventions.
o Ship Design and Construction (SDC)- considers a wide range of technical and
operational matters related to ship design and construction, including subdivision and
stability.
o Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE)- deals with technical and operational matters about
systems and equipment of all different types of vessels and mobile units covered by IMO
instruments.
o Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)- deals with the carriage
of packaged dangerous goods, solid bulk cargoes, bulk gas cargoes, and containers.
• Legal Committee- Responsible in dealing legal matters within the organization.
• Technical Cooperation Committee- Required to consider any matter concerned with the
implementation of technical cooperation projects.
• Facilitation Committee- It deals with IMO's work in eliminating unnecessary formalities and "red
tape" in international shipping by implementing all aspects of the Convention on Facilitation of
International Maritime Traffic 1965.
ADOPTING A CONVENTION
• Member states discussed developments in shipping and other related industries and when
the creation of new convention is needed.
ENTRY INTO FORCE
• After adoption, conventions will have to be formally accepted by individual governments for it
to be entered into force.
SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL AND ACCESSION
• Methods by which a state can express its consent to be bound by a treaty.
SIGNATURE
• Consent may be expressed based on Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, Article
12.1:
o the treaty provides that signature shall have that effect
o it is otherwise established that the negotiating States were agreed that signature should
have that effect
o the intention of the State to give that effect to signature appears from the full powers of its
representatives or was expressed during the negotiations.
ACCESSION
• is the method used by a State to become a party to a treaty which it did not sign whilst the treaty
was open for signature.
AMENDMENT
• More acceptances were required to amend a convention than were originally required to
bring it into force in the first place, especially where the number of States which are Parties to
a convention is very large. Also, amendments enter into force within 18 to 24 months.
ENFORCEMENT
• The enforcement of IMO conventions depends upon the Governments of Member Parties.
5 IMPORTANT IMO 6 IMPORTANT IMO BODIES 7 SUBCOMMITTEES ASSISTING MSC
INSTRUMENTS &MEPC
Main Organs: • Human Element, Training and
• Assembly and Council Watchkeeping (HTW);
• Conventions • Implementation of IMO Instruments
5 Main IMO Committees: (III);
• Protocols
• Maritime Safety Committee • Navigation, Communications and
• Amendments (MSC), Search and Rescue (NCSR);
• Marine Environment Protection • Pollution Prevention and Response
• Recommendations,
Committee (MEPC),
(PPR);
codes, and • Legal Committee,
• Ship Design and Construction (SDC);
• Technical Cooperation
guidelines • Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE);
Committee,
• Resolutions • Facilitation Committee. • Sub-Committee on Carriage of
Cargoes and Containers (CCC)
LIST OF IMO CONVENTIONS
• 3 key IMO conventions
• 10 conventions relating to maritime safety and security and ship/port interface
• 7 conventions relating to prevention of marine pollution
• 8 Conventions covering liability and compensation
• 2 Other IMO conventions
KEY IMO CONVENTIONS ADOPTION ENTRY INTO FORCE
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1 November 1974 25 May 1980
(SOLAS, 1974, as amended.
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution Convention: 2 November 1973 (Annexes I and II):
from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 1978 Protocol 2 October 1983
relating thereto and by the Protocol of 1997 (MARPOL) 1997 (Protocol - Annex VI)
International Convention on Standards of Training, 7 July 1978 28 April 1984
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
as amended, including the 1995 and 2010 Manila
Amendments
IMO CONVENTIONS RELATING TO MARITIME ADOPTION ENTRY INTO
SAFETY AND SECURITY AND SHIP/PORT FORCE
INTERFACE
Convention on the International Regulations for 20 October 1972 15 July 1977
Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG), 1972
Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime 9 April 1965 5 March 1967
Traffic (FAL), 1965
International Convention on Load Lines (LL), 1966 5 April 1966 21 July 1968
International Convention on Maritime Search and 27 April 1979 22 June 1985
Rescue (SAR), 1979
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts 10 March 1988 1 March 1992
Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA), 1988,
and Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts
Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the
Continental Shelf (and the 2005 Protocols)
International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 2 December 1972 6 September 1977
1972
Convention on the International Maritime Satellite 3 September 1976 16 July 1979
Organization (IMSO C), 197
The Torremolinos International Convention for the 2 April 1977 Was unlikely to enter
Safety of Fishing Vessels (SFV), 1977, superseded by into force, largely for
the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol; Cape Town Agreement technical reasons.
of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the
1993 Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International
Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels
International Convention on Standards of Training, 7 July 1995 29 September 2012
Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel
Personnel (STCW-F), 1995
Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement (STP), 2 January 1974
1971 and Protocol on Space Requirements for Special 6 October 1971
Trade Passenger Ships, 1973\
IMO CONVENTIONS RELATING TO MARPOL ADOPTION ENTRY INTO FORCE
International Convention Relating to Intervention on the 29 November 1969 6 May 1975
High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties
(INTERVENTION), 1969
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by 13 November 1972 30 August 1975
Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (LC), 1972 (and 1996 Protocol: 1996 Protocol:
the 1996 London Protocol) 7 November 1996 24 March 2006
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, 30 November 1990 13 May 1995
Response and Co-operation (OPRC), 1990
Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 15 March 2000 14 June 2007
to pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious
Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol)
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti- 5 October 2001 17 September 2008
fouling Systems on Ships (AFS), 2001
International Convention for the Control and 13 February 2004 8 September 2017
Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments,
2004
24 months after
ratification by 15 States,
representing 40 per cent of
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe 15 May 2009 world merchant shipping
and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 by gross tonnage,
combined maximum
annual ship recycling
volume not less than 3 per
cent of their combined
tonnage
IMO CONVENTIONS COVERING LIABILITY ADOPTION ENTRY INTO FORCE
AND COMPENSATION
International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil 29 November 1969 19 June 1975
Pollution Damage(CLC), 1969, renewed in 1992 Replaced by 1992 Protocol: Replaced by 1992
27 November 1992 Protocol:
30 May 1996
1992 Protocol to the International Convention on the 18 December 1971 16 October 1978
Establishment of an International Fund for
Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (FUND 1992) Superseded by 1992 Protocol: Superseded by 1992
27 November 1992 Protocol:
30 May 1996
Convention relating to Civil Liability in the Field of 17 December 1971 15 July 1975
Maritime Carriage of Nuclear Material (NUCLEAR),
1971
Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of 13 December 1974 28 April 1987
Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL), 1974
2002 Protocol: 2002 Protocol:
1 November 2002 23 April 2014
Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 19 November 1976 1 December 1986
(LLMC), 1976
Protocol of 1996: Protocol of 1996:
2 May 1996 13 May 2004
International Convention on Liability and Compensation 3 May 1996 Not in force
for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of
Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS), Superseded by 2010 Protocol: Superseded by 2010
1996 (and its 2010 Protocol) 30 April 2010 Protocol:
Not yet in force
International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil 23 March 2001 21 November 2008
Pollution Damage, 2001
Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of 18 May, 2007 14 April 2015
Wrecks, 2007
OTHER IMO CONVENTIONS ADOPTION ENTRY INTO FORCE
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of 23 June 1969 18 July 1982
Ships (TONNAGE), 1969
International Convention on Salvage (SALVAGE), 1989 28 April 1989 14 July 1996
MARINE POLLUTION AT SEA
• Ocean pollution is a mixture of chemicals and trash mostly from land sources which were
washed into the ocean such as manufactured chemicals, agricultural runoff, plastic waste, or oils.
• As cited from Texas Disposal Systems (2022), the following causes ocean pollution: non-point
source pollution or runoff, Intentional discharge, Oil Spills, Littering, and Ocean Mining.
How much do plastic straws contribute to pollution in the ocean?
• As stated by National Geographic, there were 8 million tons of plastics that surges into the
ocean every year and which 0.025% of them are composed of plastic straws (as cited in
Mulhern, 2020).
What is plastic waste management?
• It is process of segregating your plastic trash based on its types and to make these plastics
reusable. Furthermore, the best way to do it is by applying the 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and
Recycle).
Where do microplastics come from?
• As plastics can last for 450 years before it decomposes, which some of them becomes
microplastics. Microplastics are plastic particles with approximately less than 5
millimeters (0.2 inches) which can be eaten by marine animals leading to health issues. These
microplastics are divided into two, namely primary and secondary microplastics.
• Primary microplastics comes from laundering of synthetic clothes (35% of primary
microplastics); abrasion of tires through driving (28%); intentionally added microplastics in
personal care products, for example microbeads in facial scrubs (2%). While, secondary ones
originate from decomposition of larger plastics like plastic bags, bottles, and fishing nets
(Society, 2018).
What are microbeads?
• Plastic microbeads are one of the categories of microplastics which are miniscule and
difficult to see by the naked eye. They are mostly found in personal care products as cleansers
and exfoliants (What Are Plastic Microbeads? 2020).
Sources
IMO identification number schemes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/MSAS/Pages/IMO-identification-number-scheme.aspx
IMO Model Courses. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/IMO-OPRC-Model-Courses.aspx
IMO number. (2022, September 5). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMO_number
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https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/international-maritime-
organization.asp#:%7E:text=What%20Is%20the%20Purpose%20of,preventing%20ocean%20pollution%20a
nd%20accidents.
List of IMO Conventions. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from
https://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/Pages/ListOfConventions.aspx
MARPOL 73/78
MARPOL Practical Guide
Structure of IMO. (n.d.-b). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/Structure.aspx
Society. (2018, November 22). Microplastics: sources, effects and solutions | News | European Parliament. European
Parliament. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20181116STO19217/microplastics-sources-
effects-and-solutions
Texas Disposal Systems. (2022, August 3). Ocean Pollution: Causes, Effects and Prevention - TDS Blog. Retrieved
October 1, 2022, from https://www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention/
The lifecycle of plastics. (2021, July 1). The lifecycle of plastics. WWF-Australia. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from
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ecompose.
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