HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended
by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (the 1997 Protocol),
RECOGNIZING that the emission of nitrogen oxides from marine
diesel engines installed on board ships has an adverse effect on the
environment causing acidification, formation of ozone, nutrient enrichment
and contributes to adverse health effects globally,
BEING AWARE of the protocols and declarations to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning, inter
alia, the reduction of emission of nitrogen oxides or its transboundary
fluxes,
NOTING that regulation 13(3)(a) of
Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 sets forth the nitrogen oxide emission limitations
for marine diesel engines,
RECOGNIZING FURTHER the concern expressed by a number of
delegations that these emission limits may not achieve the desired
reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and that these delegations support
a review of regulation 13(3)(a) of
Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 with the aim of prescribing more stringent
emission limits, taking into account the adverse effects of such emissions
on the environment and any technological developments in marine engines,
1. INVITES the Marine Environment Protection Committee,
as a matter of urgency, to review the nitrogen oxide emission limits
at a minimum of five year intervals after entry into force of the 1997 Protocol and, if appropriate as a
result of such review, prepare amendments to regulation 13(3) of Annex VI of MARPOL
73/78 and the corresponding provisions of the Technical Code on Control
of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines; and
2. RECOMMENDS that the date of implementation
of any amended emission limitation should be decided taking into account
technological feasibility.