Argentina becomes the 100th State to accede to Marpol Annex VI

Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Marpol Convention) addresses air pollution from ships and includes energy efficiency requirements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

With Argentina's accession, the regulation now applies to 96.65% of the world's merchant shipping tonnage.

"The Annex VI rules limit air pollutants from shipping and improve energy efficiency, helping to combat climate change by reducing CO2 emissions from the sector. I am pleased that we now have 100 Contracting States and I encourage others who have not yet done so to join this important treaty," said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.

"We all need to do our bit to ensure the health of people and the planet and to tackle climate change. MARPOL Annex VI provides the mandatory regulatory framework to limit and reduce emissions from shipping," he added.

Lim noted that while most ships by tonnage are already covered, all States, including coastal States, could benefit from becoming a party, as they can then exercise port State control over ships flying any flag.

Annex VI sets limits on emissions of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides from ships' exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances; for designated emission control areas, stricter standards are set for SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions. Chapter 4 adopted in 2011 establishes mandatory technical and operational energy efficiency measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

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