See the ENTRI query system for information about the signatory status of this treaty.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION
OF THE SEA BY OIL
(as amended on 11 April 1962 and 21 October 1969)
Objective
=========
To take action to prevent pollution of the sea by oil discharged
from ships.
Summary of provisions
=====================
(a) Applies to all ships, except tankers of under 150 tons gross
tonnage and other ships of under 500 tons gross tonnage, registered in
the territory of, or having the nationality of, a Party. Naval ships
and ships engaged in whaling are also excepted (art. 2);
(b) Prohibition of discharges, except when a ship is proceeding
en route or when the instantaneous rate of discharge does not exceed
60 litres per mile. The prohibition is not applicable when the
following conditions are satisfied: in the case of a ship - the oil
content of the discharge is less than 100 parts per million parts of
the mixture, or the discharge is made as far as practicable from land;
in the case of a tanker - the total quantity of oil discharged on a
ballast voyage does not exceed one fifteen-thousandth of the total
cargo-carrying capacity, or the tanker is more than 50 miles from the
nearest land (art. 3);
(c) Exceptions to article 3 in cases of necessity to secure safety
of ships, save life or prevent damage to cargo, or where leakage is
unavoidable and all measures have been taken to minimize it (art. 4);
(d) Ships to be fitted within 12 months to prevent escape of oil
into the bilges (art. 7);
(e) Parties to provide appropriate facilities at ports and oil-
loading terminals (art. 8);
(f) All ships covered by the Convention to carry an oil record
book in a form specified in the annex, to be completed whenever certain
operations take place (art. 9);
(g) Parties to send texts of laws, decrees, orders and regulations
giving effect to the Convention to the United Nations.
Membership
==========
Open to all States for acceptance; instruments of acceptance to
be deposited with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Amendment Amendment
--------- ---------
Date of adoption 12.5.1954 11.4.1962 21.10.1969
Place of adoption London, UK London, UK London,UK UK
Date of entry into force 26.7.1958 18.5. and 20.1.1978
28.6.1967
Languages English,
French
Depositary IMO IMO IMO
Participant Entry into force
----------- ----------------
Algeria 20. 4.1964
Argentina* 30.12.1976
Austria 19. 8.1975
Bahamas* 22.10.1976
Bahrain 21. 1.1986
Bangladesh 28.12.1981
Belgium 26. 7.1958
Canada 26. 7.1958
Chile* 2.11.1977
Congo 10.12.1985
Côte d'Ivoire 17. 6.1967
Cyprus 10. 9.1980
Denmark 26. 7.1958
Djibouti 1. 6.1984
Dominican Republic 29. 8.1963
Egypt 22. 7.1963
Fiji* 15.11.1972
Finland 31. 3.1959
France 26. 7.1958
Ghana 17. 8.1962
Greece 28. 6.1967
Guinea 19. 4.1981
Iceland 23. 5.1962
India 4. 6.1974
Ireland 26. 7.1958
Israel 11. 2.1966
Italy* 25. 8.1964
Japan 21.11.1967
Jordan 8. 8.1963
Kenya 12.12.1975
Korea, Republic of 31.10.1978
Kuwait 27. 2.1962
Lebanon 31. 8.1967
Liberia* 28. 6.1962
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 18. 5.1972
Madagascar 1. 5.1965
Maldives 17. 8.1982
Malta 10. 4.1975
Mexico 26. 7.1958
Monaco 25. 6.1970
Morocco 29. 5.1968
Netherlands 1. 6.1984
New Zealand 1. 9.1971
Nigeria 22. 4.1968
Norway 26. 7.1958
Panama 25.12.1963
Papua New Guinea 12. 6.1980
Philippines 19. 2.1964
Poland* 28. 5.1961
Portugal* 28. 6.1967
Qatar 1. 5.1980
Russian Federation* 3.12.1969
Saudi Arabia* 30. 3.1972
Senegal 27. 6.1972
Spain 22. 4.1964
Sri Lanka 30. 8.1983
Suriname 1. 3.1977
Sweden 26. 7.1958
Switzerland 12. 4.1966
Syrian Arab Republic 24. 3.1969
Tunisia* 11. 9.1973
United Arab Emirates 15. 3.1984
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland** 26. 7.1958
United States of America*** 8.12.1961
Uruguay 9. 3.1976
Vanuatu 2. 5.1983
Venezuela 12. 3.1964
Yemen 6. 6.1979
Yugoslavia 11. 6.1974
States which have denounced the Convention
Australia 14.10.1988
Bulgaria 12.12.1985
Germany 30. 3.1989
Netherlands and the
Netherlands Antilles 1. 6.1989
* With reservation/declaration.
** Extended to Bermuda.
*** Extended to American Samoa, Guam, The Panama Canal Zone,
Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and the United
States Virgin Islands on 9.9.1975 and to the Midway Islands, Johnston
Island and Wake Island on 18.3.1976.
Convention Secretariat
======================
International Maritime Organization
4 Albert Embankment
London SE17SR, United Kingdom
Telephone: 071-735-7611
Fax: 071-587-3210
Telex: 23588
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