Resolution MEPC. 171(57)

DESIGNATION OF THE PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA  MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT AS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREA

(Adopted on 4 April 2008)

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

BEING AWARE of the ecological, socio-economic and scientific attributes of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, as well as its vulnerability to damage by international shipping activities and the steps taken by the United States to address that vulnerability,

NOTING the Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas adopted by resolution A.982(24) (PSSA Guidelines) and the Revised Guidance Document for Submission of PSSA Proposals to IMO set forth in MEPC/Circ.510,

HAVING CONSIDERED the proposal made by the Government of the United States that the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument be designated as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area,

HAVING AGREED that the criteria for the identification and designation of a Particularly Sensitive Area provided in resolution A.982(24) are fulfilled for the Papahānaumokuākea  Marine National Monument,

HAVING NOTED that the Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-third session, in considering the necessary associated protective measures, adopted new and amended, routeing measures, as well as a new ship reporting system applicable to the proposed Particularly Sensitive Sea Area,

1. DESIGNATES the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument described in annex 1 as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area;

2. INVITES Member Governments to recognize the ecological, socio-economic, and scientific attributes of the area, set forth in annex 2, as well as its vulnerability to damage by international shipping activities, as described in annex 3; and

3. FURTHER INVITES Member Governments to note the associated protective measures established to address the area's vulnerability, the details of which are contained in annex 4, and request ships flying their flag that they act in accordance with such measures.

Annex 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT PSSA*

_____________

* The text in this annex is taken from the United States submission contained in document MEPC 56/8.

(Reference chart: United States 19016, 2007 edition; 19019, 2007 edition; 19022, 2007 edition. These charts are based on World Geodetic Survey 1984 and astronomic datum.)

Description of the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

To avoid the risk of damage from ship groundings and pollution damage by international shipping activities and the destruction and degradation of this unique, fragile, and pristine coral reef ecosystem, as well as of significant cultural and archaeological resources, mariners should exercise extreme care when navigating in the area bounded by a line connecting the following geographical positions which is designated as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area: