Resolution MEPC.121(52)

DESIGNATION OF THE WESTERN EUROPEAN WATERS AS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREA

(Adopted on 15 October 2004)

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

BEING AWARE of the ecological, social, economic, cultural, scientific and educational value of the Western European Waters, as well as its vulnerability to damage by international shipping traffic and activities in the area and the steps taken by Belgium, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom to address that vulnerability,

NOTING that the Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas adopted under resolution A.927(22) set out procedures for the designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas,

HAVING CONSIDERED the proposal from Belgium, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom to designate the Western European Waters as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area,

HAVING AGREED that criteria for identification of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area provided in resolution A.927(22) are fulfilled for the Western European Waters,

1. DESIGNATES the Western European Waters as defined in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 to this resolution as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

2. INVITES Committee Members to note the establishment of the new Mandatory Ship Reporting System as an Associated Protective Measure, for ships entering the Western European Waters Particularly Sensitive Sea Area in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation V/11. The mandatory ship-reporting system will enter into force at 0000 hours UTC time six months after the adoption by the Maritime Safety Committee in December 2004.

Annex 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREA WESTERN EUROPEAN WATERS CO-ORDINATES