Maritime Environmental Law

MARPOL 73/78 stands for the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978. It is the primary international treaty that addresses the prevention of pollution from ships.

MARPOL 73/78 regulates oil pollution, sewage pollution, and air pollution from ships. Noise pollution is not regulated by MARPOL 73/78.

The purpose of OPRC is to establish international standards for oil spill preparedness and response, to provide compensation to victims of oil spills, and to promote cooperation among states in responding to oil spills.

The AFS Convention is intended to prevent the discharge of harmful substances from anti-fouling systems on ships, the introduction of invasive species into marine environments, and the spread of marine diseases.

The purpose of the BWM Convention is to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through ships' ballast water, to establish standards for the treatment and discharge of ships' ballast water, and to promote cooperation among states in managing ships' ballast water.

The London Convention is intended to prevent the dumping of wastes and other matter into the ocean, the incineration of wastes at sea, and the discharge of sewage from ships.

The purpose of the FUND Convention is to provide compensation to victims of oil spills, to establish an international fund to pay for oil spill cleanup costs, and to promote cooperation among states in responding to oil spills.

The CLC Convention is intended to ensure that shipowners are liable for oil pollution damage, that victims of oil pollution damage are compensated, and that states cooperate in responding to oil spills.