Annex V of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 

 Ships 



As noted in previous Annual Reports, Annex V of the MARPOL 

 Convention was opened for signature by acceding nations in 1978. 

 On 31 December 1987, when the U.S. submitted its instrument of 

 ratification, the criteria necessary for the Annex to enter into 

 force (i.e. , ratification by at least 15 nations representing 50 

 percent of the world's commercial shipping tonnage) were met. 

 After an additional one-year period during which acceding nations 

 ensured that implementing programs were in place (i.e. , on 31 

 December 1988) , the provisions of Annex V became binding on 

 signatory parties. 



The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the 

 International Maritime Organization is the international body 

 responsible for overseeing international cooperation regarding 

 the implementation of MARPOL Annex V and its regulations 

 governing the disposal of garbage from ships. At the request of 

 the State Department, the U.S. Coast Guard heads U.S. delegations 

 to periodic Committee meetings, which are held at the 

 International Maritime Organization headquarters in London. 



As noted in previous Annual Reports, the Marine Mammal 

 Commission assisted the Coast Guard in efforts to encourage and 

 provide advice to the Marine Environment Protection Committee on 

 this issue. Among other things, the Commission drafted U.S. 

 papers describing the problem and needed actions submitted by the 

 Coast Guard to the Committee. It also drafted portions of the 

 Guidelines for implementing Annex V which were subsequently put 

 forward by the United States and adopted by the Committee. The 

 Commission also assisted efforts to seek U.S. ratification of the 

 Annex and, as indicated above, has helped develop responsive 

 domestic programs. 



28th Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee 

 — In the years after Annex V was opened for signature but before 

 the necessary ratification criteria had been met, possible 

 changes to strengthen its provisions were identified. However, 

 it was agreed that any action to amend the Annex would be 

 deferred until after it had entered into force. This 

 understanding was reached because several nations already had 

 ratified Annex V and any changes could necessitate repeating the 

 ratification process in those countries and ultimately delaying 

 its entry into force. 



Annex V became effective on 31 December 1988 and, at the 

 28th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee 

 convened on 17 October 1989 in London, two amendments identified 

 after the Annex was opened for signature were considered for 

 adoption. One amendment, which was proposed by Belgium, Denmark, 

 Federal Republic of Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, and the 



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