Air pollution rules to enter into force in 2005

Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships are set to enter into force on 19 May 2005, following
the ratification y the !n"epen"ent State of Samoa of Anne# $! of the !nternational %onvention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 19&', as mo"ifie" y the Protocol of 19&( relating thereto )MARP*+ &',&(-.
/he 199& Protocol to the MARP*+ %onvention, which inclu"es Anne# $!, enters into force 12 months after eing
accepte" y 15 States with not less than 500 of worl" merchant shipping tonnage. Samoa, the fifteenth State
to ratify the instrument, "eposite" its ratification on 1( May 2001. Anne# $! has now een ratifie" y States
with 51.5&0 of worl" merchant shipping tonnage.
Anne# $! sets limits on sulphur o#i"e an" nitrogen o#i"e emissions from ship e#hausts an" prohiits "elierate
emissions of o2one3"epleting sustances.
!M* Secretary34eneral 5fthimios 5. Mitropoulos sai" he was please" to see the Anne# achieve sufficient
ratifications to enter into force.
67ith the entry into force of Anne# $!, the full set of MARP*+ international regulations for the prevention of
pollution y ships will e in force. 7e must now ensure their effective implementation an" enforcement6, he
sai".
!n welcoming entry into force of Anne# $!, the Secretary34eneral also too8 the opportunity to urge
4overnments to ratify other !M* pollution3prevention instruments, particularly the !nternational %onvention on
the %ontrol of 9armful Anti3fouling Systems on Ships of 2001, which has so far een ratifie" y eight of the 25
States representing 250 of the worl":s tonnage re;uire" for it to enter into force, an" the recently a"opte"
!nternational %onvention for the %ontrol an" Management of Ships: <allast 7ater an" Se"iments.
Regulations on Prevention of Air Pollution from ships
/he Protocol inclu"ing Anne# $! to the MARP*+ %onvention was a"opte" at a %onference hel" in Septemer
199&, in response to !M* Assemly Resolution A.&19)1&- on Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships,
a"opte" in 1991, which calle" on !M*:s Marine 5nvironment Protection %ommittee )M5P%- to prepare a new
"raft Anne# to MARP*+ &',&( on prevention of air pollution. /he Anne# was "evelope" over the ne#t few
years.
/he regulations inclu"e a gloal cap of 1.50 m,m on the sulphur content of fuel oil an" calls on !M* to monitor
the worl"wi"e average sulphur content of fuel once the Protocol comes into force.
Anne# $! contains provisions allowing for special 6S*# 5mission %ontrol Areas6 to e estalishe" with more
stringent controls on sulphur emissions. !n these areas, the sulphur content of fuel oil use" on oar" ships
must not e#cee" 1.50 m,m. Alternatively, ships must fit an e#haust gas cleaning system or use any other
technological metho" to limit S*# emissions. /he <altic Sea Area is "esignate" as a S*# 5mission %ontrol area
in the Protocol.
!n March 2000, the M5P% approve" a propose" amen"ment to Anne# $! to also inclu"e the =orth Sea as a S*#
5mission %ontrol Area. /he aim is to a"opt the amen"ment once MARP*+ Anne# $! enters into force.
Anne# $! prohiits "elierate emissions of o2one "epleting sustances, which inclu"e halons an"
chlorofluorocarons )%>%s-. =ew installations containing o2one3"epleting sustances are prohiite" on all ships.
<ut new installations containing hy"ro3chlorofluorocarons )9%>%s- are permitte" until 1 ?anuary 2020.
Anne# $! also sets limits on emissions of nitrogen o#i"es )=*#- from "iesel engines. A man"atory =*#
/echnical %o"e, which "efines how this shall e "one, was a"opte" y the %onference un"er the cover of
Resolution 2.
/he Anne# also prohiits the incineration on oar" ships of certain pro"ucts, such as contaminate" pac8aging
materials an" polychlorinate" iphenyls )P%<s-.
Greenhouse gas emissions
As Anne# $! "oes not cover the emission of greenhouse gases from ships, the !M* Assemly in =ovemer
200' a"opte" resolution A.9@')2'- on IMO Policies and Practices related to the Reduction of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships.
2@ May 2001
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!M* 3 the !nternational Maritime *rgani2ation 3 is the Bnite" =ations speciali2e" agency with responsiility for
the safety an" security of shipping an" the prevention of marine pollution y ships.
7e siteC httpC,,www.imo.org,
For further information please contact:
+ee A"amson, Senior 5#ternal Relations *fficer on 020 &5(& '15' )me"iaDimo.org- or
=atasha <rown, 5#ternal Relations *fficer on 020 &5(& '2&1 )me"iaDimo.org -.