MARPOL

History of MARPOL

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. See : MARPOL: Historic Background.   

The question of marine pollution was discussed at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972).

Final Act of the International Conference on Marine Pollution, 1973 (MARPOL, 1973) and Convention

MARPOL Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships, 1973

MARPOL Conferences

The MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973.  The Protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to a spate of tanker accidents in 1976-1977.  As the 1973 MARPOL Convention had not yet entered into force, the 1978 MARPOL Protocol absorbed the parent Convention.  Full Story

Key conferences relating to the prevention of pollution from ships:

MP/CONF  International Conference on Marine Pollution (London, 8 October – 2 November 1973) at which MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973.

TSPP/CONF  International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention, 1978 (6 – 17 February 1978) (Adopted the: Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973)

MP/CONF.2  Conference of Parties to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (1 and 3 November 1994)

MP/CONF.3  Conference of Parties to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (15-17, 22, 24-26 September 1997)