MARPOL Treaty

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MARPOL is one of the most significant international marine environmental conventions.
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
The MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973 at IMO. The Protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to a spate of tanker accidents in 1976-1977.
The current convention is a combination of the 1973 Convention and the 1978 Protocol, which entered into force on 2 October 1983.
The Convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships - and currently includes six technical Annexes:

Annex I: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil
Annex II: Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk
Annex III: Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form
Annex IV: Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships
Annex V: Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships
Annex VI: Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships

In 2011, IMO became the first international regulator for a transport sector to adopt globally binding energy efficiency requirements, which apply to all ships globally, regardless of trading pattern or flag State, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
IMO is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships.
It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
It was established by means of a Convention adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva on 17 March 1948 and met for the first time in January 1959.
It currently has 174 Member States.

Source: PIB

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