IMO adopted resolutions regarding the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas

The International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee has adopted resolutions MEPC.381(80) and MEPC.382(80).

MEPC.381(80): Establishment of the Date on which Regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I, in Respect of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas, Shall Take Effect

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, recalling Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (the Committee) conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

Noting regulation 1.11.4 and 1.11.6 of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL), defines under the said Annex,

Noting also the definition of the Special Area under MARPOL Annex I, i.e. a sea area where for recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographical and ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution by oil is required,

Noting further the information provided to the Committee, at its eightieth session, by Parties, including Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Sudan, the coastlines of which border the Red Sea Special Area, that adequate reception facilities are provided in all ports and terminals within the said Special Area, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 38.8 of MARPOL Annex I,

Noting the information provided to the Committee, at its eightieth session, by Parties, including Djibouti and Somalia, the coastlines of which border the Gulf of Aden Special Area, that adequate reception facilities are provided in all ports and terminals within the said Special Area, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 38.8 of MARPOL Annex I,

Having considered the matter to establish the date, on which the discharge requirements of regulations 1.11.4 and 1.11.6 of MARPOL Annex I in respect of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Special Areas shall take effect,

Decides that the discharge requirements of regulations 15.3, 15.5, and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I in respect to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas shall take effect on 1 January 2025, in accordance with the requirements set out in regulation 38.8.1 of MARPOL Annex I;

Encourages Member Governments, industry groups, and other stakeholders to comply immediately on a voluntary basis with the Special Area requirements for the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas;

Requests the Secretary-General to notify, in conformity with regulation 38.8.1 of MARPOL Annex I, all Parties to MARPOL of the aforementioned decision by 31 December 2023;

Also requests the Secretary-General to notify all Members of the Organization of the aforementioned decision.

MEPC.382(80): Establishment of the Date on Which Regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V, in Respect of the Red Sea Special Area, Shall Take Effect

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, recalling Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (the Committee) conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

Noting regulation 1.14.4 of Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL), defines the Red Sea area as a Special Area under the said Annex,

Noting also the definition of the Special Area under MARPOL Annex V, i.e. a sea area where, for recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographical and ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of pollution of the sea by garbage is required,

Noting further the information provided to the Committee, at its eightieth session, by Parties including Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the Sudan, the coastlines of which border the Red Sea Special Area, that adequate reception facilities are provided in all ports and terminals within the said Special Area, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 8.2 of MARPOL Annex V,

Having considered the matter to establish the date on which the discharge requirements of regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V in respect of the Red Sea Special Area shall take effect,

Decides that the discharge requirements of regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V in respect to the Red Sea Special Area shall take effect on 1 January 2025, in accordance with the requirements set out in regulation 8.2 of MARPOL Annex V,

Encourages Member Governments, industry groups, and other stakeholders to comply immediately on a voluntary basis with the Special Area requirements for the Red Sea Special Area,

Requests the Secretary-General to notify, in conformity with regulation 8.2 of MARPOL Annex V, all Parties to MARPOL of the aforementioned decision by 31 December 2023,

Also requests the Secretary-General to notify all Members of the Organization of the aforementioned decision.

Both resolutions were adopted on 7 July 2023.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):

MEPC.381(80): Establishment of the Date on which Regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I, in Respect of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas, Shall Take Effect

MEPC.382(80): Establishment of the Date on Which Regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V, in Respect of the Red Sea Special Area, Shall Take Effect