Table of Contents
MARPOL CONVENTION
• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering
prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships
from operational or accidental causes.
• It was developed by the International Maritime Organization .
• The objective of this convention is to preserve the marine environment in an
attempt to completely eliminate pollution by oil and other harmful
substances and to minimize accidental spillage of such substances.
• 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 Convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from
ships – both accidental pollution and that from routine operations – and currently
includes six technical Annexes.
Annex I Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil (entered into force 2 October
1983)
• Covers prevention of pollution by oil from operational measures as well as from accidental discharges.
• Annex II Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid
Substances in Bulk (entered into force 2 October 1983)
• Annex III Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form
(entered into force 1 July 1992).
• Annex IV Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships (entered into force 27 September 2003)
Annex V Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (entered into force 31 December 1988)
Annex VI Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships ( ).