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Marpol 73/78 is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978. ("Marpol" is short for marine pollution and 73/78 short for the years 1973 and 1978.)

Marpol 73/78 is one of the most important international marine environmental conventions. It was designed to minimise pollution of the seas, including dumping, oil and exhaust pollution. Its stated object is: to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances.

The original MARPOL Convention was signed on 17 February 1973, but did not come into force. The current Convention is a combination of 1973 Convention and the 1978 Protocol. It entered into force on 2 October 1983. As at 31 December 2005, 136 countries, representing 98% of the world's shipping tonnage, are parties to the Convention.

Marpol contains 6 annexes, concerned with preventing different forms of marine pollution from ships:

• Annex I - Oil
• Annex II - Noxious Liquid Substances carried in Bulk
• Annex III - Harmful Substances carried in Packaged Form
• Annex IV - Sewage
• Annex V - Garbage
• Annex VI - Air Pollution

A State that becomes party to Marpol must accept Annex I and II. Annexes III-VI are voluntary annexes.

Annex I entered into force on 2 October 1983. Annex II entered into force 6 April 1987. As at 30 November 2006, 138 countries representing almost 98% of the world's tonnage had become party to Annexes I and II.

Annex III entered into force on 1 July 1992 and (as at 30 November 2006) 123 countries representing over 94% of the world's tonnage had become party to it.

Annex IV entered into force on 27 September 2003 and (as at 30 November 2006) 113 countries representing over 75% of the world's tonnage had become party to it.

Annex V entered into force on 31 December 1988 and (as at 30 November 2006) 128 countries representing over 96% of the world's tonnage had become party to it.

Annex VI entered into force on 19 May 2005 and (as at 30 November 2006) 37 countries representing over 72% of the world's tonnage had become party to it.

There are 136 countries party to the agreement:

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Austria, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

• Ship pollution

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78)