Asia/Pacific News
Sri Lanka Moves to Include MARPOL Annex VI in National Legislation
Sri Lanka has begun the process of bringing MARPOL Annex VI, concerning the prevention of air pollution from ships, into its national legislation, local media reports.
President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, was said to have proposed the move which was approved by cabinet ministers last week.
"Air pollution caused by emissions of ships has rapidly increased," the government stated.
"It is necessary to reduce emission and to minimise its impact on health and environment."
Sri Lanka joined MARPOL 73/78, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, in 1997, which at that time had five annexes pertaining to ship pollution from oil & oily water, noxious liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, sewage from ships, and garbage from ships.
MARPOL Annex VI, which addressed air pollution and among other things called for regulation of SOx emissions from ships, came into force in May 2005.
