Marine Pollution Management

Since the early 1970’s, there has been widening public recognition that the oceans do not provide an infinite means of disposal of wastes, but have a finite assimilative capacity. This is true not only for limited coastal seas, but also for the large open ocean areas. In response, many governments have acceded to a series of international conventions serving to provide limits on pollution from marine sources, such as shipping, dumping of industrial wastes and contaminated dredged sediments and discharges from offshore oil and gas drilling. Examples include** :

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78);
• International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties (INTERVENTION), 1969;
• Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (LDC), 1972 and the Protocol of 1996;
• International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC 1990) and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (HNS Protocol);
• International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS), 2001;
• International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004

Key in each case has been assessment of needs and development of a planning and response format within an environmental management structure. This enables the shipping company or port authority to ensure due diligence in all aspects of their operations and provision of an auditable trail of information and documentation.

** For more information on these and other conventions, see www.imo.org (Marine Environment)