6 Associated Protective Measures
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.982(24) – Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas – (Adopted on 1 December 2005) - Annex – Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas - 6 Associated Protective Measures

6 Associated Protective Measures

  6.1 In the context of these Guidelines, associated protective measures for PSSAs are limited to actions that are to be, or have been, approved or adopted by IMO and include the following options:

  • 6.1.1 designation of an area as a Special Area under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV or V, or an emission control area under MARPOL Annex VI, or application of special discharge restrictions to vessels operating in a PSSA. Procedures and criteria for the designation of Special Areas are contained in the 2013 Guidelines for the Designation of Special Areas under MARPOL, set forth in the annex to resolution A.1087(28). Criteria and procedures for the designation of emission control areas are contained in Appendix 3 to MARPOL Annex VI;

  • 6.1.2 adoption of ships’ routeing and reporting systems near or in the area, under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and in accordance with the General Provisions on Ships’ Routeing and the Guidelines and Criteria for Ship Reporting Systems. For example, a PSSA may be designated as an area to be avoided or it may be protected by other ships’ routeing or reporting systems; and

  • 6.1.3 development and adoption of other measures aimed at protecting specific sea areas against environmental damage from ships, provided that they have an identified legal basis.

  6.2 Consideration should also be given to the potential for the area to be listed on the World Heritage List, declared a Biosphere Reserve, or included on a list of areas of international, regional, or national importance, or if the area is already the subject of such international, regional, or national conservation action or agreements.

  6.3 In some circumstances, a proposed PSSA may include within its boundaries a buffer zone, in other words, an area contiguous to the site-specific feature (core area) for which specific protection from shipping is sought. However, the need for such a buffer zone should be justified in terms of how it would directly contribute to the adequate protection of the core area.

Parent topic: Annex – Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
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