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Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI) -- UNEP Summary File

See the ENTRI query system for information about the signatory status of this treaty.

          INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON OIL POLLUTION  
            PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND COOPERATION

Objectives
==========

     To strengthen the legal framework for the control of
environmental pollution by oil, in general, and marine pollution by
oil in particular, by providing a basis for preparedness, and for a
response-capability, to deal with incidents of oil pollution in the
marine environment.

Summary of provisions
=====================

     (a)  Prescription for a general duty for the Parties to take
appropriate measures to prepare for and respond to any oil pollution
incident (art. 1);

     (b)  Definition of terms used in the Convention, such as "oil
pollution incident", "offshore unit", "sea ports and oil handling
facilities" (art. 2);

     (c)  Imposition on the Parties of a duty to ensure that all
ships flying their flags have made oil pollution emergency plans on
the basis of prescriptions in the Convention (art. 3);

     (d)  Requirement that the Parties should impose on ships
flying their flags the duty to report all incidents of oil discharge
affecting such ships (art. 4);  and the Party receiving such report
is obliged to take appropriate control action, and to pass the
information to all States whose interests are likely to be affected
(arts. 5, 6 and 7);

     (e)  Provisions for collaborative initiatives, in research and
development, and in technical operations, in the search by the
Parties for appropriate controls to oil pollution incidents (arts.
8, 9 and 10);

     (f)  The Convention contains an annex on the reimbursement of
costs of assistance.

Membership
==========

     The Convention is open to all States subject to:  signature
without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval;  or
to signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval,
followed by ratification, acceptance or approval;  or accession.

     Date of adoption           30.11.1990
     Place of adoption          London, UK
     Date of entry into force   Not yet in force
     Languages                  Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
                                Russian, Spanish
     Depositary                 Secretary-General of the
                                International Maritime Organization

     Participant                 Ratification,
     -----------                 Accession (Ac)
                                 --------------

     Australia                    6. 7.1992 (Ac)
     Egypt                       29. 6.1992
     Seychelles                  26. 6.1992 (Ac)
     Sweden                      30. 3.1992
     United States of America    27. 3.1992

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