The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983.They give effect to amendments to Annex I to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973.The amendments (in the form of amendments to the 1978 Protocol relating to the Convention) were adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (“MEPC”) of the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) at its 30th, 31st and 32nd Sessions.

The main purposes of the amendments adopted by the MEPC are—

(a) the designation of the Antarctic as a special area;

(b) the introduction of a requirement for ships to carry oil pollution emergency plans;

(c) an increase in the stringency of discharge criteria;

(d) enhancement of the design criteria for new oil tankers; and

(e) modification of the survey and construction requirements for existing tankers.

The amendments adopted by the MEPC are contained in the following Annexes to Resolutions of the MEPC—

(i) Annex 1 to Resolution MEPC 42(30), adopted on 16th November 1990;

(ii) the Annex to Resolution MEPC 47(31), adopted on 4th July 1991;

(iii) the Annex to Resolution MEPC 51(32), adopted on 6th March 1992; and

(iv) the Annex to Resolution MEPC 52(32), adopted on 6th March 1992.

Copies of these Resolutions and Annexes, of other Resolutions published by IMO and referred to in the Schedule to the Regulations, and of the IBC Code (referred to in paragraph (3) of regulation 29B inserted by paragraph 9 of the Schedule) may be obtained from IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR.