Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels: The Potential and Limits of the International Maritime Organisation

Md Saiful Karim

Prevention of

Pollution of

the Marine

Environment from

Vessels

The Potential and Limits of the

International Maritime Organisation

Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment

from Vessels

ThiS is a FM Blank Page

Md Saiful Karim

Prevention of Pollution of the

Marine Environment from

Vessels

The Potential and Limits of the International

Maritime Organisation

Md Saiful Karim

Faculty of Law

Queensland University of Technology

Brisbane

Queensland

Australia

ISBN 978-3-319-10607-6 ISBN 978-3-319-10608-3 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10608-3

Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014955367

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

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Preface and Acknowledgements

This book explores the role of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as

facilitator of the adoption and implementation of international legal instruments for

the protection of the marine environment. While several studies have examined

different aspects of the international legal regime concerning vessel-source marine

pollution, none have presented a research monograph particularly emphasising or

critically examining the role of IMO in the protection of the marine environment

and the emerging challenges in fulfilling this role. This book aims to fill that gap. It

contributes to this aspect of international legal scholarship, with particular empha￾sis on the north–south tensions IMO is currently facing. This book also presents an

overview of the IMO legal instruments and their implementation process. It will

work as a guide for the implementation of IMO marine environmental legal

instruments.

This book is likely to interest environmental lawyers, international lawyers and

those involved with environmental governance. This includes academics, govern￾ments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations. Apart from

the research and academic community, this book may be useful for government

officials who are involved with national implementation of IMO marine environ￾mental legal instruments, particularly officials of coast guards and maritime admin￾istrations. Although it is a research monograph, this book may be used as a

prescribed text for training programs for government officials, and as a

recommended text for postgraduate courses on marine environmental law. While

writing this book, particular emphasis has been given to fulfilling the demands of

the target readership.

The idea of writing this book first came to my mind in 2006 when I was a

research student at the National University of Singapore. There are two reasons for

writing this book. The main reason is that the perspectives of least developed

countries have not been well documented in the existing literature on vessel-source

marine pollution. Moreover, there is a shortage of books that concisely and criti￾cally present the IMO law-making process and IMO marine environmental legal

instruments for a new researcher in this field. As a new researcher in this field I felt

v

both of these concerns when I was pursuing my research degree at the National

University of Singapore.

This book incorporates some materials from my three previously published

articles including ‘Implementation of the MARPOL Convention in Developing

Countries’ (2010) 79 Nordic Journal of International Law 303, Brill Academic

Publishers; ‘Environmental Pollution from Shipbreaking Industry: International

Law and National Legal Response’ (2010) 22 Georgetown International Environ￾mental Law Review 185; and ‘Implementation of the MARPOL Convention in

Bangladesh’ (2009) 5 Macquarie Journal of International and Comparative Envi￾ronmental Law 51. I would like to thank the editors and publishers of those journals.

I would like to thank all the institutions with which I was involved in the last

10 years in different capacities including Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers

Association, National University of Singapore (NUS), Macquarie University and

Southern Cross University (SCU). I am also grateful to my current employer,

Queensland University of Technology (QUT), for providing excellent research

support.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to my former research supervisors Professor

Natalie Klein and Professor Alan Tan. I would also like to thank my colleagues

at the Queensland University of Technology for their unwavering support.

I would particularly like to thank my research assistants Alexander Button￾Sloan and Paul T. Perovic.

Finally, my gratitude and love to my family.

Brisbane, QLD, Australia Md Saiful Karim

September 2014

vi Preface and Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Abuja MoU West and Central Africa Memorandum of Understanding on

Port State Control

ADB Asian Development Bank

AFS Anti-Fouling System

APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

BAN Basel Action Network

BIC Bureau International des Containers et du Transport

Intermodal

BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Council

BS MoU Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the

Black Sea Region

BWM Ballast Water Management

CBD 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity

CBDR Common But Differentiated Responsibilities

CCC Subcommittee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers

CDEM Construction, Design, Equipment and Manning

CESA Community of European Shipyards’ Associations

CIRM Comite´ International Radio-Maritime

CLC International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution

Damage

CLIA Cruise Lines International Association

CMI Comite´ Maritime International

CMoU Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State

Control

COLREGs Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing

Collisions at Sea

CoP Conference of Parties

COW Crude Oil Washing

CRISTAL Contract Regarding an Interim Settlement of Tanker Liability

for Oil Pollution

vii

CSC Clean Shipping Coalition

DGAC Dangerous Goods Advisory Council

DNV Det Norske Veritas

dwt Deadweight tons

EC WSR European Council Waste Shipment Regulation

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

EU European Union

FAL Convention Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic

FAL Facilitation Committee

FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation

FOC Flag of Convenience

FOEI Friends of the Earth International

FONASBA The Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and

Agents

FPSOs Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units

FRF Fund for Reception Facilities

FSI Flag State Implementation

FSUs Floating Storage Units

FUND International Convention on the Establishment of an

International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution

GAIRS Generally Accepted International Rules and Standards

GEF Global Environment Facility

GESAMP Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine

Environmental Protection

GHGs Green House Gases

GIWA Global International Waters Assessment

grt Gross registered ton

GT Gross Tonnage

HNS Hazardous and Noxious Substances

HTW Subcommittee on Human Element, Training and

Watchkeeping

IAASP International Association of Airport and Seaport Police

IACS International Association of Classification Societies

IADC International Association of Drilling Contractors

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

IAIN International Association of Institutes of Navigation

IALA International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and

Lighthouse Authorities

IAMU International Association of Maritime Universities

IAPH International Association of Ports and Harbors

IAPPC International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate

IBIA International Bunker Industry Association

IBTA International Bulk Terminals Association

viii Abbreviations

ICC International Chamber of Commerce

ICMA International Christian Maritime Association

ICOMIA International Council of Marine Industry Associations

ICS International Chamber of Shipping

IFAW International Fund for Animal Welfare

IFSMA International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations

IGOs Intergovernmental Organisations

IHMA International Harbour Masters’ Association

IICL Institute of International Container Lessors

IIDM Iberoamerican Institute of Maritime Law

III Subcommittee on Implementation of IMO Instruments

IIMA International Iron Metallics Association

ILAMA International Life-saving Appliance Manufacturers’

Association

ILO International Labour Organisation

IMarEST The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology

IMCA International Marine Contractors Association

IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation

IMHA International Maritime Health Association

IMLA International Maritime Lecturers Association

IMO International Maritime Organisation

IMPA International Maritime Pilots’ Association

IMRF International Maritime Rescue Federation

INTERCARGO International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners

InterManager International Ship Managers’ Association

INTERTANKO International Association of Independent Taker Owners

IOI International Ocean Institute

IOMoU Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State

Control

IOPCF International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund

IOPCSF International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary

Fund

IOPPC International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate

IPIECA International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation

Association

IPPIC International Paint and Printing Ink Council

IPTA International Parcel Tankers Association

IRU International Road Transport Union

ISAF International Sailing Federation

ISCO International Spill Control Organisation

ISF International Shipping Federation

ISO International Organization for Standardization

ISRT Fund International Ship Recycling Trust Fund

ISSA International Shipsuppliers & Services Association

Abbreviations ix

ISU International Salvage Union

ITF International Transport Workers’ Federation

ITOPF The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation

Limited

ITTC International Towing Tank Conference

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUMI International Union of Marine Insurance

IVODGA International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association

LDC Least Developed Country

LEG Legal Committee

LMEs Large Marine Ecosystems

LOT Load on Top

MARPOL 73/78 International Convention for the Prevention of Marine

Pollution from Ships

Med MoU Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State

Control

MEPC Marine Environment Protection Committee

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MSC Maritime Safety Committee

NCSR Subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search

and Rescue

NGOs Non-Government Organisations

NI The Nautical Institute

NLS Noxious and Liquid Substances

NOC No Objection Certificate

NOx Nitrogen Oxides

OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine Forum

OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

OGP International Association of Oil and Gas Producers

OILPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the

Seas by Oil

OPA-90 Oil Pollution Act 1990 (USA)

OPEC Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OPRC 1990 Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response

and Cooperation

ORB Oil Record Book

PAHs Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Paris MoU Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control

P & I Clubs International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations

PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl

PCT Polychlorinated Terphenyls

PFCs Perfluorocarbons

PIC Prior Informed Consent

x Abbreviations

POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants

PPR Subcommittee on Pollution Prevention and Response

PSC Port State Control

PSSA Particularly Sensitive Sea Area

RINA Royal Institution of Naval Architects

Riyadh MoU Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control

SAR Search and rescue

SBTs Segregated Ballast Tanks

SDC Subcommittee on Ship Design and Construction

SDRs Special Drawing Rights

SECAS SOx Emission Control Areas

SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

SOx Sulphur Oxides

SSE Subcommittee on Ship Systems and Equipment

STCW International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers

STCW-F Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for

Fishing Vessel Personnel

TBT Tributyl Tin

TC Technical Cooperation Committee

TOVLOP Tanker Owners’ Voluntary Agreement on Liability for Oil

Pollution

TSPP International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution

Prevention

UN United Nations

UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organisation

UNFCCC 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change

VLCC Very Large Crude Carrier

VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

WHO World Health Organisation

WMO World Meteorological Organisation

WNTI World Nuclear Transport Institute

WSC World Shipping Council

WWF World Wide Fund For Nature

Abbreviations xi

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Contents

1 Introduction ........................................... 1

1.1 Introduction . . . ................................... 1

1.2 IMO and Marine Pollution from Ships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.3 Historical Development of IMO Legal Instruments and

Institutional Structure for the Prevention of Pollution of

the Marine Environment from Vessels . . . ................ 4

1.4 Scope and Perspective of the Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2 IMO Institutional Structure and Law-Making Process . . . . . . . . . . 15

2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2.2 Actors in the IMO Law-Making Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.2.1 Member States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.2.1.1 Port, Coastal and Flag States . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2.2.1.2 Developed, Developing and Least Developed

States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2.2.2 United Nations and Other Intergovernmental

Organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2.2.3 International Non-governmental Organisations with

Consultative Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

2.3 IMO Institutional Framework and Institutional Politics . . . . . . . 21

2.3.1 Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

2.3.2 Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

2.3.3 Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

2.3.4 Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) . . . 25

2.3.5 Technical Cooperation Committee (TC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

2.3.6 Legal Committee (LEG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

2.3.7 Facilitation Committee (FAL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

2.3.8 Sub-committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

2.3.9 Secretariat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

2.3.10 IMO Funding and Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

xiii

2.4 IMO Law-Making Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

2.4.1 IMO Mandate Under UNCLOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2.4.2 Tacit Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

3 Pollution Prevention, Response and Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

3.2 Pollution by Discharge of Oils and Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

3.3 Dangerous Goods, Sewage and Garbage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

3.4 Air Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

3.5 Special Pollution Prevention Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

3.6 Particularly Sensitive Sea Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

3.7 OPRC Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

3.8 Intervention Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

3.9 Liability and Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

3.10 Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

4 Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Biofouling . . . . . . . . . . . 67

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

4.2 Management of Ships’ Ballast Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

4.2.1 Response of the Global Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

4.2.2 IMO Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

4.2.3 General Obligations Under the BWM Convention . . . . 71

4.2.4 Ballast Water Management Plan and Standard . . . . . . . 72

4.2.4.1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard (Regulation

D-1 Standard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

4.2.4.2 Ballast Water Performance Standard

(Regulation D-2 Standard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

4.2.5 Implementation of Ballast Water Standards . . . . . . . . . 75

4.3 Management of Ships’ Bio-fouling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

5 Recycling of Ships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

5.2 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

5.3 Structure of the Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

5.4 Salient Features of the Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

5.4.1 General Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

5.4.2 Green Shipbuilding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

5.4.3 Inventory of Hazardous Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

5.4.4 Preparation for Ship Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

5.4.5 Certification and Surveying of Ships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

xiv Contents