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Multilateral Environment Agreements: Pacific regional clearinghouse mechanism: marine pollution

The Pacific regional clearinghouse mechanism for MEAs is a project component of the ACP MEA project. The ACP MEA project is funded by the EC and implemented by UNEP. For further details see the ACP MEA project homepage, the Pacific component homepage, and the latest ACP MEA Newsletter and related publications.

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 and 1996 Protocol Thereto (the "London" Convention) ;

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL) ;

The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) ;

International Conventional Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969

International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damages, 1992

International Convention on the Establishment of an international Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992

International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996

Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Pacific Region by Dumping [SPREP Dumping protocol]

Protocol concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region [SPREP Pollution Emergencies protocol]

Official Convention websites and texts
Other related websites
Country reports
Training resources
Critical documents
---Guidelines for reporting
---Guidelines for implementation
---Funding opportunities
---Case studies
---Lessons learned
---Fact sheets
---Regional updates
Conference of the Parties
---Schedule of meetings
---Pre-COP briefings
---Post COP summaries
Newsletters and listservs
Calendar of events
Contacts and focal points

Pacific regional MEA clearinghouse mechanism home

Official websites

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 (London Convention and Protocol)
The "Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972", the "London Convention" for short, is one of the first global conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Its objective is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter. Currently, 86 States are Parties to this Convention.

In 1996, the "London Protocol" was agreed to further modernize the Convention and, eventually, replace it. Under the Protocol all dumping is prohibited, except for possibly acceptable wastes on the so-called "reverse list". The Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006 and there are currently 37 Parties to the Protocol.

... go to the full text of the Convention
... go to the full text of the Protocol as amended in 2006

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL Convention)
The most important convention regulating and preventing marine pollution by ships is the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78). It covers accidental and operational oil pollution as well as pollution by chemicals, goods in packaged form, sewage, garbage and air pollution.

... go to the full text of the Convention

International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC)
The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), 1990 provides a global framework for international co-operation in combating major incidents or threats of marine pollution. A protocol to this convention (HNS Protocol) covers marine pollution by hazardous and noxious substances.

... go to the full text of the Convention

International Conventional Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969
The Convention affirms the right of a coastal State to take such measures on the high seas as may be necessary to prevent, mitigate or eliminate danger to its coastline or related interests from pollution by oil or the threat thereof, following upon a maritime casualty. The 1973 Protocol extended the Convention to cover substances other than oil.

... go to full text of the Convention

International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damages, 1992
The Civil Liability Convention was adopted to ensure that adequate compensation is available to persons who suffer oil pollution damage resulting from maritime casualties involving oil-carrying ships. The Convention places the liability for such damage on the owner of the ship from which the polluting oil escaped or was discharged.

... go to the full text of the Convention

International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992
Although the 1969 Civil Liability Convention provided a useful mechanism for ensuring the payment of compensation for oil pollution damage, it did not deal satisfactorily with all the legal, financial and other questions raised during the Conference adopting the CLC Convention. Some States objected to the regime established, since it was based on the strict liability of the shipowner for damage which they could not foresee and, therefore, represented a dramatic departure from traditional maritime law which based liability on fault. On the other hand, some States felt that the limitation figures adopted were likely to be inadequate in cases of oil pollution damage involving large tankers. They therefore wanted an unlimited level of compensation or a very high limitation figure. the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage was adopted at a Conference held in Brussels in 1971. It is supplementary to the 1969 Civil Liability Convention.

... go to the full text of the Convention

International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS), 1996
The Convention will make it possible for up to 250 million SDR (about US$320 million) to be paid out in compensation to victims of accidents involving HNS, such as chemicals. The HNS Convention is based on the two-tier system established under the CLC and Fund Conventions . However, it goes further in that it covers not only pollution damage but also the risks of fire and explosion, including loss of life or personal injury as well as loss of or damage to property.

... go to full text of the Convention

[* updated - A Protocol to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (HNS Convention), aimed at bringing that Convention into effect, has been adopted by consensus by a Diplomatic Conference convened by IMO at its Headquarters in London. The Protocol of 2010 to the HNS Convention addresses practical problems that have prevented many States from ratifying the original Convention, which, despite being adopted in 1996, has, to date, only 14 ratifications and is some way from meeting the conditions for its entry into force. ]

Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Pacific Region by Dumping [SPREP Dumping Protocol]
The Dumping Protocol was amended and 2 new Protocols adopted in order to comply with the 1996 Protocol to the London Dumping Convention as well as the OPRC and its Hazardous and Noxious Substances Protocol .
The new Protocols relate to pollution from oil and hazardous and noxious substances:
Protocol on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in the Pacific Region ; Protocol on Hazardous and Noxious Substances Pollution, Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in the Pacific.
see also Documents for joining the 3 instruments

Protocol concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region [SPREP Pollution Emergencies Protocol]

see also Pacific MEAs Database: MEA Status in Pacific island countries: ratifications, signatories, accessions; reporting obligations; links to full text country reports

Other related websites

Marine Pollution : Addressing Shipping Related Marine Pollution in the Pacific Islands Region [SPREP]
Marine Pollution is recognised as one of the four main threats to the world’s oceans. Shipping is a significant source of marine pollution. The relevance of activities implemented through the PACPOL programme has continued to be high on the agenda of the SPREP Meetings. At the global level recent marine spill incidents and the new threat of invasive marine species continue to highlight the need to address the environmental impacts of shipping. Pacific Island Countries need assistance in addressing their obligations under recent IMO legal instruments such as the Convention on Anti-fouling Systems; Protocol on Hazardous and Noxious Substances; Bunkers Convention and most recently the Ballast Water Convention and the Ship Wreck Removal Convention.

SPREP Regional Conventions webpage
Includes model legislation, regulations, and guidelines relating to the implementation of the SPREP Convention and protocols.

PACIFIC ISLANDS HANDBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL MARINE POLLUTION CONVENTIONS
(Consolidated texts of the main marine pollution conventions of the World and the region) [SPREP] (2000)
Includes a table of membership status of the Conventions (as at January 2000)

Country reports:

Training resources:

Regional Training Course (Level 2 & 3) & Regional Seminar for Decision Makers on the Ratification and Implementation of the OPRC-HNS Protocol - 29 November to 3 December 2010.
The training is being organized by SPREP. All correspondence relating to arrangements for this seminar should be addressed to: Anthony Talouli, Marine Pollution Adviser (anthonyt@sprep.org )

see SPREP circular, aide memoire and nomination form

Critical documents:

---Guidelines for reporting

---Guidelines for implementation

London Convention
- GUIDANCE ON THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1996 PROTOCOL TO THE LONDON CONVENTION 1972

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF DREDGED MATERIAL

- LONDON CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL: GUIDANCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION LISTS AND ACTION LEVELS FOR DREDGED MATERIAL

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF SEWAGE SLUDGE

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF FISH WASTE, OR MATERIAL RESULTING FROM INDUSTRIAL FISH PROCESSING OPERATIONS

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF VESSELS

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF PLATFORMS OR OTHER MAN-MADE STRUCTURES AT SEA

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF INERT, INORGANIC GEOLOGICAL MATERIAL

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC MATERIAL OF NATURAL ORIGIN

- SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF BULKY ITEMS PRIMARILY COMPRISING IRON, STEEL, CONCRETE AND SIMILARLY UNHARMFUL MATERIALS FOR WHICH THE CONCERN IS PHYSICAL IMPACT, AND LIMITED TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SUCH WASTES ARE GENERATED AT LOCATIONS, SUCH AS SMALL ISLANDS WITH ISOLATED COMMUNITIES, HAVING NO PRACTICABLE ACCESS TO DISPOSAL OPTIONS OTHER THAN DUMPING

- LONDON PROTOCOL: SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF CARBON DIOXIDE STREAMS FOR DISPOSAL INTO SUB-SEABED GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS

- GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE DE MINIMIS CONCEPT UNDER THE LONDON CONVENTION 1972 (adopted in 1999, amended in 2003)

---Funding opportunities

---Case studies

London Convention - Cook Islands - Disposal of asbestos at sea - see also permit

---Fact sheets

The IMO and the environment

THE LONDON CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL: THEIR ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION TO PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

---Lessons learned

Pacific lessons to learn from Deepwater Horizon event (2010)

---Regional updates

PACIFIC OCEAN POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAMME (PACPOL) 2010–2014 REVISION ~DRAFT~ Strategy and Workplan (2009)
At the 20th SPREP Meeting The Secretariat outlined the process for and progress in preparation of a draft Strategy for the Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Program (PACPOL) for 2010-2014 and advised that the strategy would be finalized by the end of 2009.

Addressing shipping related marine pollution in the Pacific islands region: discussion paper for PIROF (2004)

PROGRESS REPORT : January 2003 to June 2004 . Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Programme (PACPOL) - A Joint IMO-SPREP Programme

Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Programme (PACPOL) : Strategy and Workplan (1999).

see International Conventions relating to marine pollution activities: Meeting report. Apia, Samoa 2-6 December, 1996

see also Global environmental conventions and their Pacific regional counterparts (2003)

Conference of the Parties

Schedule of meetings

Pre-COP briefings

Post COP summaries

Newsletters and listservs:

Current Awareness Bulletin [IMO]

Earth Negotiations Bulletin
A Reporting Service for Environment and Development Negotiations

MEA Bulletin
The MEA Bulletin is a publication created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Division for Environmental Law and Conventions (UNEP DELC).

Calendar of events

IMO Meetings

Regional Training Course (Level 2 & 3) & Regional Seminar for Decision Makers on the Ratification and Implementation of the OPRC-HNS Protocol - 29 November to 3 December 2010.
The training is being organized by SPREP. All correspondence relating to arrangements for this seminar should be addressed to: Anthony Talouli, Marine Pollution Adviser (anthonyt@sprep.org )

Contacts and focal points

Country focal points

SPREP focal points
Marine Pollution Adviser - Anthony Talouli
* Contact the SPREP focal point for asistance in identifying sources of technical and financial assistance

Convention Secretariat Contacts

Compiled by Peter Murgatroyd. Last updated 12 January 2011

© SPREP