Oil pollution, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• A resolution from the International Oil Pollution Conferences recommended establishing a prohibited zone of 50 to 150 miles from maritime nations' coasts for oil discharge.
• The resolution aimed to prohibit the discharge of oils or mixtures constituting a nuisance within these specified limits.
• It also urged each government to require ships flying its flag to refrain from discharging oil near the shores of other countries.
• This initiative was a significant early step in addressing marine pollution caused by routine ship operations.

Detailed Insights:

• The resolution likely emerged from the conferences leading to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil (OILPOL), adopted in London in 1954.
• OILPOL 1954 was the first major international treaty to address marine oil pollution, primarily focusing on discharges from routine tanker operations.
• It initially established "prohibited zones" extending at least 50 miles from the nearest land where the discharge of oil or oily mixtures (with more than 100 parts per million oil content) was forbidden.
• The convention underwent amendments in 1962, 1969, and 1971, which extended the application to lower tonnage ships and further restricted operational discharges.
• A key aspect of OILPOL was the requirement for contracting parties to provide adequate reception facilities in ports for oily water and residues.
• The principles and provisions of OILPOL were later subsumed and significantly strengthened by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).
• MARPOL 73/78 introduced much stricter global regulations, including a general prohibition on oil discharge within 12 nautical miles of land and a limit of 15 parts per million (ppm) for oil content in permitted discharges.

Key Concepts Involved:

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil (OILPOL): An international treaty adopted in 1954, marking the first significant global effort to prevent marine oil pollution from ships.
• Prohibited Zones: Designated sea areas, established under international conventions, where the discharge of oil or oily mixtures from ships is either completely banned or severely restricted.
• Flag State Responsibility: The legal principle under international law where a country (the flag state) is responsible for enforcing maritime regulations and conventions on ships registered under its flag.
• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78): The primary international convention governing the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships, covering both operational and accidental pollution.