Resolution  MEPC.167(56)

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DATE ON WHICH THE AMENDMENTS TO REGULATION 1.11 OF MARPOL ANNEX I, IN RESPECT OF THE SOUTHERN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS SPECIAL AREA, SHALL TAKE EFFECT

(Adopted on 13 July 2007)

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 38 of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

NOTING resolution MEPC.154(55) by which the Committee adopted amendments to regulation 1.11 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 73/78), to designate the Southern South African waters as a Special Area,

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 pollution of the sea by oil is required,

NOTING FURTHER the information provided in document MEPC 54/8, submitted by South Africa as the sole State bordering the Southern South African Waters Special Area, that adequate reception facilities are provided in all major ports within the said Special Area, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 38.4 of MARPOL Annex I,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the Committee, at its fifty-fifth session, had agreed to issue MEPC.1/Circ.543 on the Early and effective implementation of the Southern South African waters as a Special Area, pending its entry into force, whereby it requested Member Governments and industry groups to comply with the Special Area requirements immediately on a voluntary basis and, in particular, to urge oil tankers to refrain from washing their cargo tanks in the Southern South African waters, pending the entry into force of the Special Area requirements,

HAVING CONSIDERED the matter to establish the date, on which the discharge requirements of regulation 1.11 of MARPOL Annex I in respect of the Southern South African waters Special Area shall