HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified
by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (the 1997 Protocol),
NOTING that Article 6(1) of
the 1997 Protocol provides that it shall enter into force twelve months
after the date on which not less than fifteen States, the combined
merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50 per cent of the
gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping, have become
Parties to it in accordance with Article
5 of the same Protocol,
DESIRING that the conditions for entry into force of the 1997 Protocol be satisfied by 31 December
2002, enabling air pollution requirements to be implemented internationally
as soon as possible,
BEING COGNIZANT that the unique characteristics of air pollution
from ships and the provisions of the annex to the 1997 Protocol may require a timely review
of the provisions of the instrument,
1. URGES Member States of the Organization to
take the steps necessary to consent to be bound by the 1997 Protocol no later than 31 December
2002;
2. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to review the
progress of Member States in consenting to become bound by the 1997 Protocol; and
3. INVITES, if the conditions for entry into force
of the 1997 Protocol have not been
met by 31 December 2002, the Marine Environment Protection Committee,
at its first meeting thereafter, to initiate, as a matter of urgency,
a review to identify the impediments to entry into force of the Protocol
and any necessary measures to alleviate those impediments.