(1) The present Convention shall come into force
twelve months after the date on which not less than fifteen Governments
of States, including seven each with not less than one million gross
tons of shipping, have signed without reservation as to acceptance
or deposited instruments of acceptance or accession in accordance
with Article 27. The Organization shall
inform all Governments which have signed or acceded to the present
Convention of the date on which it comes into force.
(2) For Governments which have deposited an instrument
of acceptance of or accession to the present Convention during the
twelve months mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Article, the acceptance
or accession shall take effect on the coming into force of the present
Convention or three months after the date of deposit of the instrument
of acceptance or accession, whichever is the later date.
(3) For Governments which have deposited an instrument
of acceptance of or accession to the present Convention after the
date on which it comes into force, the Convention shall come into
force three months after the date of the deposit of such instrument.
(4) After the date on which all the measures required
to bring an amendment to the present Convention into force have been
completed, or all necessary acceptances are deemed to have been given
under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (2) of Article
29 in case of amendment by unanimous acceptance, any instrument
of acceptance or accession deposited shall be deemed to apply to the
Convention as amended.