MARPOL 73/78

MARPOL 73/78, short for marine pollution, is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978, and is one of the most important international marine environmental conventions. It was developed by the International Maritime Organization to minimize pollution of the oceans and seas, including dumping, oil pollution and air pollution. The original convention was signed on 17 February 1973 but did not enter into force then; the combined convention and protocol entered into force on 2 October 1983. As of January 2018 it had 156 state parties covering 99.42 percent of world shipping tonnage, and all ships flagged under signatory countries must meet its requirements wherever they sail.