International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: London, United Kingdom
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 13/05/1995

Category

Environment and products

Sub category

Maritime and Law of the Sea

Groups

IMO

What is it about?

This Convention obliges State parties to adopt measures to prepare, respond, prevent and cooperate in the case of oil spill incidents. Ships bearing the flag of State parties or off shore units located in maritime zones under State jurisdiction must be in possession of an emergency plan designed to limit the damage caused by pollution in an oil spill incident. This plan requires masters or other persons being in charge of ships flying its flag and persons having charge of offshore units under its jurisdiction to report without delay any event on their ship or offshore unit involving a discharge or probable discharge of oil. Each Party shall establish a national system for a prompt and effective response to oil pollution incidents. The minimum requirement for this system includes the designation of the competent national authority or authorities responsible for oil pollution preparedness; a national operational contact point or points, responsible for the receipt and transmission of oil pollution reports and an authority entitled to act on behalf of the State to request assistance or to decide to render the assistance requested. It further requires a national contingency plan for preparedness and response including the organizational relationship of the various bodies involved, whether public or private, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization. The Protocol of 15 March 2000 extends the provisions of this Convention to pollution caused by hazardous and noxious substances.

Why is it relevant?

By becoming a party to this instrument, a State can prepare for damage caused by maritime pollution and can limit its impact on their fishing and tourism sectors. There is more technical and financial assistance so as to prepare for such risks (training and equipment) and help in case of pollution by oil spills.

Additional Information

The International Maritime Organization plays an important role in the coordination of the provisions of the Convention of 1990. By 2003, the Convention of 1990 was ratified by 73 States, representing more than 70% of world tonnage.

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania02/01/2008
Algeria08/03/2005
Angola04/10/2001
Antigua and Barbuda05/01/1999
Argentina13/07/1994
Australia06/07/1992
Azerbaijan16/07/2004
Bahamas04/10/2001
Bahrain09/03/2016
Bangladesh23/07/2004
Benin05/02/2010
Brazil21/07/1998
Bulgaria05/04/2001
Cameroon18/09/2009
Canada07/03/1994
Cape Verde04/07/2003
Chile15/10/1997
China30/03/1998
Colombia11/06/2008
Comoros05/01/2000
Congo07/09/2004
Cote d'Ivoire08/07/2013
Croatia12/01/1998
Cuba10/04/2008
Denmark22/10/1996
Djibouti19/01/1998
Dominica31/08/2001
Ecuador29/01/2002
Egypt29/06/1992
El Salvador09/10/1995
Estonia16/05/2008
Finland21/07/1993
France06/11/1992
Gabon12/04/2005
Georgia20/02/1996
Germany15/02/1995
Ghana02/06/2010
Greece07/03/1995
Guinea02/10/2002
Guyana10/12/1997
Iceland21/06/1993
India17/11/1997
Iran25/02/1998
Ireland26/04/2001
Israel24/03/1999
Italy02/03/1999
Jamaica08/09/2000
Japan17/10/1995
Jordan14/04/2004
Kenya21/07/1999
Latvia30/11/2001
Lebanon30/03/2005
Liberia05/10/1995
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya18/06/2004
Lithuania23/12/2002
Madagascar20/05/2002
Malaysia30/07/1997
Malta21/01/2003
Marshall Islands16/10/1995
Mauritania22/11/1999
Mauritius02/12/1999
Mexico13/05/1994
Monaco19/10/1999
Morocco29/04/2003
Mozambique09/11/2005
Namibia18/06/2007
Netherlands01/12/1994
New Zealand02/07/1999
Nigeria25/05/1993
Norway08/03/1994
Oman26/06/2008
Pakistan21/07/1993
Palau29/09/2011
Peru24/04/2002
Philippines06/02/2014
Poland12/06/2003
Portugal27/02/2006
Qatar08/05/2007
Republic of Korea09/11/1999
Romania17/11/2000
Russian Federation18/09/2009
Saint Kitts and Nevis07/10/2004
Saint Lucia20/05/2004
Samoa18/05/2004
Saudi Arabia30/07/2009
Senegal24/03/1994
Seychelles26/06/1992
Sierra Leone10/03/2008
Singapore10/03/1999
Slovenia31/05/2001
South Africa04/07/2008
Spain12/01/1994
Sudan21/01/2015
Sweden30/03/1992
Switzerland04/07/1996
Syrian Arab Republic14/03/2003
Thailand14/03/2003
Togo23/04/2012
Tonga01/02/1996
Trinidad and Tobago06/03/2000
Tunisia23/10/1995
Turkey01/07/2004
United Kingdom16/09/1997
United Republic of Tanzania16/05/2006
United States of America27/03/1992
Uruguay27/09/1994
Vanuatu18/02/1999
Venezuela12/12/1994
Yemen10/05/2013
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19926
19934
19949
19957
19965
19975
19987
199911
20004
20017
20025
20036
20049
20054
20062
20072
20087
20093
20102
20111
20121
20132
20141
20151
20161
Total112
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