What is the scope of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships?
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is an international treaty that establishes the standards for the prevention of pollution from ships. It is the most comprehensive maritime environmental treaty in existence and is enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The scope of the Convention applies to all ships and other marine installations and covers the prevention of oil and other hazardous discharges from ships, air pollution, garbage, sewage, and hazardous substances from ships, as well as reducing noise and vibration levels and preventing the deliberate release of alien species from ships. In West Virginia, MARPOL is part of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 33 – Navigation and Navigable Waters, Subchapter S – Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The US Code of Federal Regulations also requires that any vessel operating in the waters of the United States must comply with the requirements of MARPOL and all related laws and regulations enacted by the US Coast Guard. This means that vessels must have an approved Oil/Pollution Prevention Plan onboard, which must be followed at all times. Additionally, vessels must have an effective sewage management plan and must employ approved methods of garbage handling and disposal. In addition to the US regulations, MARPOL requires that all vessels operating outside the US waters must be prepared to comply with the MARPOL Annexes, which sets additional requirements for prevention of pollution from ships. These annexes require that all vessels must be fitted with approved pollution prevention equipment, must be marked for easy identification, must follow approved routes, must report incidents of pollution, and must abide by the rules for the disposal of chemical, biological, and radioactive substances.
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