Resolution A.926(22)

AVAILABILITY AND USE OF LOW SULPHUR BUNKER FUEL OILS IN SO_X EMISSION CONTROL AREAS DESIGNATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION 14(3) OF ANNEX VI OF MARPOL 73/78

(adopted on 29 November 2001)

THE ASSEMBLY,

RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in relation to regulations and guidelines concerning the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships and other matters concerning the effect of shipping on the marine environment,

RECALLING FURTHER that, in line with article 212 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS), resolution A.719(17), it invited the MEPC to develop legally binding measures to reduce air pollution from ships through the preparation of a new Annex to the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, and the 1978 Protocol related thereto, as amended (MARPOL 73/78),

RECALLING ALSO that on 26 September 1997 Parties to MARPOL 73/78 adopted a new Annex to the Convention in order to reduce the contribution by shipping to air pollution,

RECOGNIZING that in order for these measures to reduce air pollution from ships to be effective in SO_X Emission Control Areas, bunker fuel oil used must contain a lower sulphur percentage as prescribed in regulation 14(4)(a) of Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 rather than the maximum permitted by regulation 14(1) of Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78,

RECOGNIZING ALSO that, in order to facilitate compliance with these requirements low sulphur fuel oil should be available in sufficient quantities,

REAFFIRMING its endeavours to contribute to the reduction of air pollution from ships by all possible means,

HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations made by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at its forty-fourth session,

INVITES Governments, and more specifically those in geographical regions where SO_X Emission Control Areas have been designated, to: