What is the scope of the International Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships?

The International Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, commonly known as MARPOL, is an agreement between multiple countries and is the primary international convention governing marine pollution. The scope of MARPOL is aimed at protecting the maritime environment by preventing and reducing pollution from ships. MARPOL divides pollution into two categories: liquid and solid. It sets international standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of vessels to prevent and reduce pollution from the escape of oil, noxious liquid substances, garbage, sewage, and air pollution. It also specifies areas where ships are not allowed to discharge certain hazardous materials. This includes the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. MARPOL also includes standards for controlling the discharge of oil and oily waste, such as bilge water and sludge from cargo tanks. It also prohibits deliberate discharges of oil and oily wastes and the discharge of sewage, garbage, and other noxious liquids within 12 nautical miles of the coastline. MARPOL requires all vessels to be equipped with an oil record book which records the disposal of any oil or noxious liquid and any other operations involving the discharge of oil or noxious liquid substances from the vessel. This is to ensure that all vessels are adhering to the regulations laid out in MARPOL. Overall, the International Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships is a comprehensive agreement for all countries to come together and protect not only their own marine environments, but those of other countries as well.

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What is the scope of the International Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships?

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