7 Procedure for the Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas and the Adoption of 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 - 7 Procedure for the Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas and the Adoption of Associated Protective Measures

7 Procedure for the Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas and the Adoption of Associated Protective Measures

  7.1 An application for PSSA designation should contain a proposal for an associated protective measure that the proposing Member Government intends to submit to the appropriate IMO body. If the measure is not already available under an IMO instrument, the proposal should set forth the steps that the proposing Member Government has taken or will take to have the measure approved or adopted by IMO pursuant to an identified legal basis (see paragraph 7.5.2.3).

  7.2 Alternatively, if no new associated protective measure is being proposed because IMO measures are already associated with the area to protect it, then the application should identify the threat of damage or damage being caused to the area by international shipping activities and show how the area is already being protected from such identified vulnerability by the associated protective measures. Amendments to existing measures may be introduced to address identified vulnerabilities.

  7.3 In the future, additional associated protective measures may also be introduced to address identified vulnerabilities.

  7.4 The application should first clearly set forth a summary of the objectives of the proposed PSSA designation, the location of the area, the need for protection, the associated protective measures, and demonstrate how the identified vulnerability will be addressed by existing or proposed associated protective measures. The summary should include the reasons why the associated protective measures are the preferred method for providing protection for the area to be identified as a PSSA.

  7.5 Each application should then consist of two parts.

  • 7.5.1 Part I – Description, significance of the area and vulnerability

    • .1 Description – a detailed description of the location of the proposed area, along with a nautical chart on which the location of the area and any associated protective measures are clearly marked, should be submitted with the application.

    • .2 Significance of the area – the application should state the significance of the area on the basis of recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes and should explicitly refer to the criteria listed above in section 4.

    • .3 Vulnerability of the area to damage by international shipping activities – the application should provide an explanation of the nature and extent of the risks that international shipping activities pose to the environment of the proposed area, noting the factors listed in section 5. The application should describe the particular current or future international shipping activities that are causing or may be expected to cause damage to the proposed area, including the significance of the damage and degree of harm that may result from such activities, either from such activity alone or in combination with other threats.

  • 7.5.2 Part II – Appropriate associated protective measures and IMO's competence to approve or adopt such measures

    • .1 The application should identify the existing and/or proposed associated protective measures and describe how they provide the needed protection from the threats of damage posed by international maritime activities occurring in and around the area. The application should specifically describe how the associated protective measures protect the area from the identified vulnerability.

    • .2 If the application identifies a new associated protective measure, then the proposing Member Government must append a draft of the proposal which is intended to be submitted to the appropriate Sub-Committee or Committee or, if the measures are not already available in an IMO instrument, information must be provided with regard to its legal basis and/or the steps that the proposing Member Government has taken or will take to establish the legal basis.

    • .3 The application should identify the legal basis for each measure. The legal bases for such measures are:

      • (i) any measure that is already available under an existing IMO instrument; or

      • (ii) any measure that does not yet exist but could become available through amendment of an IMO instrument or adoption of a new IMO instrument. The legal basis for any such measure would only be available after the IMO instrument was amended or adopted, as appropriate; or

      • (iii) any measure proposed for adoption in the territorial seafootnote, or pursuant to Article 211(6) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea where existing measures or a generally applicable measure (as set forth in subparagraph (ii) above) would not adequately address the particularized need of the proposed area.

    • .4 These measures may include ships’ routeing measures; reporting requirements discharge restrictions; operational criteria; and prohibited activities, and should be specifically tailored to meet the need of the area to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the identified vulnerability of the area from international shipping activities.

    • .5 The application should clearly specify the category or categories of ships to which the proposed associated protective measures would apply, consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including those related to vessels entitled to sovereign immunity, and other pertinent instruments.

  7.6 The application should indicate the possible impact of any proposed measures on the safety and efficiency of navigation, taking into account the area of the ocean in which the proposed measures are to be implemented. The application should set forth such information as:

  • .1 consistency with the legal instrument under which the associated protective measure is being proposed;

  • .2 implications for vessel safety; and

  • .3 impact on vessel operations, such as existing traffic patterns or usage of the proposed area.

  7.7 An application for PSSA designation should address all relevant considerations and criteria in these Guidelines, and should include relevant supporting information for each such item.

  7.8 The application should contain a summary of steps taken, if any, by the proposing Member Government to date to protect the proposed area.

  7.9 The proposing Member Government should also include in the application the details of action to be taken pursuant to domestic law for the failure of a ship to comply with the requirements of the associated protective measures. Any action taken should be consistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

  7.10 The proposing Member Government should submit a separate proposal to the appropriate Sub-Committee or Committee to obtain the approval of any new associated protective measure. Such a proposal must comply with the requirements of the legal instrument relied upon to establish the measure.

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