RECALLING Article 38 of the Convention of the International
Maritime Organization concerning the function of the Committee,
NOTING regulation 5(1)(h) of
Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto
(MARPOL 73/78), defines the Wider Caribbean Region as a Special Area
under the said Annex,
NOTING ALSO the definition of Special Area under MARPOL Annex V, i.e. a sea area where for
recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographical and
ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic,
the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of pollution
of the sea by garbage is required,
NOTING FURTHER the information provided at MEPC 60 by Antigua
and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica,
France, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua,
Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, and
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela – representing the MARPOL
Parties of concern bordering the Wider Caribbean Region Special Area
– regarding reception facilities provided within the said Special
Area, in accordance with regulation 5(4) of
MARPOL Annex V,
HAVING CONSIDERED the matter to establish the date on which
the discharge requirements of regulation
5(1)(h) of MARPOL Annex V in respect of the Wider Caribbean
Region shall take effect,
1. DECIDES that the discharge requirements for
Special Areas in regulation 5 of
MARPOL Annex V for the Wider Caribbean Region Special Area shall take
effect on 1 May 2011, in accordance with the requirements set out
in regulation 5(4)(b) of MARPOL
Annex V;
2. ENCOURAGES Member Governments and industry
groups to comply immediately on a voluntary basis with the Special
Area requirements for the Wider Caribbean Region;
3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to notify, in
conformity with regulation 5(4)(b) of
MARPOL Annex V, all Parties to the Annex, of the aforementioned decision
by 30 April 2010; and
4. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to notify
all Members of the Organization of the aforementioned decision.