536 



subsequently accepted that Annex in accordance with paragraph (2) 

 of the present Article shall not be under any obligation nor entitled 

 to claim any privileges under the present Convention in respect of 

 matters related to such Annex and all references to Parties in the 

 present Convention shall not include that State in so far as matters 

 related to such Annex are concerned. 



(4) The Organization shall inform the States which have signed 

 or acceded to the present Convention of any declaration under the 

 present Article as well as the receipt of any instrument deposited in 

 accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) of the present 

 Article. 



Article 15 



entry into force 



(1) The present Convention shall enter into force twelve months 

 after the date on which not less than 15 States, the combined merchant 

 fleets of which constitute not less than fifty percent of the gross ton- 

 nage of the world's merchant shipping, have become parties to it in 

 accordance with Article 13. 



(2) An Optional Annex shall enter into force twelve months after 

 the date on which the conditions stipulated in paragraph (1) of the 

 present Article have been satisfied in relation to that Annex. 



(3) The Organization shall inform the States which have signed 

 the present Convention or acceded to it of the date on which it enters 

 into force and of the date on which an Optional Annex enters into 

 force in accordance with paragraph (2) of the present Article. 



(4) For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, 

 acceptance, approval or accession in respect of the present Convention 

 or any Optional Annex after the requirements for entry into force 

 thereof have been met but prior to the date of entry into force, the 

 ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall take effect on the 

 date of entry into force of the Convention or such Annex or three 

 months after the date of deposit of the instrument whichever is the 

 later date. 



(5) For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, 

 acceptance, approval or accession after the date on which the Conven- 

 tion or an Optional Annex entered into force, the Convention or the 

 Optional Annex shall become effective three months after the date of 

 deposit of the instrument. 



(6) After the date on which all the conditions required under Arti- 

 cle 16 to bring an amendment to the present Convention or an Optional 

 Annex into force have been fulfilled, any instrument of ratification, 

 acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall apply to the Conven- 

 tion or Annex as kmended. 



Article 16 



amendments 



(1) The present Convention may be amended by any of the proce- 

 dures specified in the following paragraphs. 



(2) Amendments after consideration by the Organization : 



(a) any amendment proposed by a Party to the Convention 

 shall be submitted to the Organization and circulated by its Secre- 



