New Annex VI to Marpol - Entry Into Force Provisions

After significant debate on reducing the normally applied entry into force criteria and thereby accelerate the effective date of Annex VI, the normally applied criteria was accepted and the new regulations will enter into force 12 months after 15 States with combined merchant fleets of not less than 50% of the world’s gross tonnage ratify the proposed 1997 Protocol to MARPOL. At present the world’s gross tonnage stands at approximately 550,000 gross tons.

The above compromise considers the overall benefits for pollution prevention provided by new Annex VI and carries with it a new and significant approach as contained in one of seven Conference Resolutions which requests the MEPC to review the above entry into force conditions if such conditions have not been met by 31 December 2002.

This provision stems from the concern that other international instruments have failed to come into effect over an inordinate period of time due to insufficient States contracting to the instrument.