Friday, July 8, 2011

SPECIAL AREAS UNDER MARPOL

In Annexes I Prevention of pollution by oil, II Control of pollution by noxious liquid substances and V Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships, MARPOL defines certain sea areas as "special areas" in which, for technical reasons relating to their oceanographical and ecological condition and to their sea traffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution is required. Under the Convention, these special areas are provided with a higher level of protection than other areas of the sea.
Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships establishes certain sulphur oxide (SOx) Emission Control Areas with more stringent controls on sulphur emissions.

Special areas under MARPOL are as follows:
Adoption, entry into force & date of taking effect of Special Areas
Special AreasAdopted #Date of Entry into ForceIn Effect From
Annex I: Oil
Mediterranean Sea2 Nov 19732 Oct 19832 Oct 1983
Baltic Sea2 Nov 19732 Oct 19832 Oct 1983
Black Sea2 Nov 19732 Oct 19832 Oct 1983
Red Sea2 Nov 19732 Oct 1983*
"Gulfs" area2 Nov 19732 Oct 19831 Aug 2008
Gulf of Aden1 Dec 19871 Apr 1989*
Antarctic area16 Nov 199017 Mar 199217 Mar 1992
North West European Waters25 Sept 19971 Feb 19991 Aug 1999
Oman area of the Arabian Sea15 Oct 20041 Jan 2007*
Southern South African waters13 Oct 20061 Mar 20081 Aug 2008
Annex II: Noxious Liquid Substances
Antarctic area30 Oct 19921 Jul 19941 Jul 1994
Annex V: Garbage
Mediterranean Sea2 Nov 197331 Dec 19881 May 2009
Baltic Sea2 Nov 197331 Dec 19881 Oct 1989
Black Sea2 Nov 197331 Dec 1988*
Red Sea2 Nov 197331 Dec 1988*
"Gulfs" area2 Nov 197331 Dec 19881 Aug 2008
North Sea17 Oct 198918 Feb 199118 Feb 1991
Antarctic area (south of latitude 60 degrees south)16 Nov 199017 Mar 199217 Mar 1992
Wider Caribbean region including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea4 July 19914 Apr 19931 May 2011
Annex VI: Prevention of air pollution by ships (Emission Control Areas)
Baltic Sea (SOx)26 Sept 199719 May 200519 May 2006
North Sea (SOx)22 July 200522 Nov 200622 Nov 2007
​North American
(SOx and NOx)
​26 March 2010​1 August 2011​1 August 2012

# Status of multilateral conventions and instruments in respect of which the international maritime organization or its secretary general perform depositary or other functions as at 31 December 2002.
* The Special Area requirements for these areas have not taken effect because of lack of notifications from MARPOL Parties whose coastlines border the relevant special areas on the existence of adequate reception facilities (regulations 38.6 of MARPOL Annex I and 5(4) of MARPOL Annex V).