Evaluation of the Designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides (Med SOx ECA) Pursuant to MARPOL Annex VI in Terms of Law of the Sea

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 441 - 466, 14.10.2022

Nasıh Sarp Ergüven , Eyyüp Karahan , Nazan Özyürek Özlem Örme

Abstract

The 22nd Meeting (COP 22) of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols, held in Antalya, Türkiye, on 7-10 December 2021, adopted a significant decision on the designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides (Med SOx ECA) pursuant to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and as further amended by the Protocol of 1997 (MARPOL).
The decision is the outcome of intense consultations among the Contracting Parties that have been facilitated by the UN Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP). It is expected to generate significant benefits for human health and for the integrity of ecosystems, which both suffer from harmful SOx emissions from the maritime transport sector. The Decision paves the way for the submission in 2022 of a joint and coordinated proposal on the designation of the Med SOx ECA to the 78th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Med SOx ECA could come into force in January 2025.
The main aim of this article is to evaluate the possible effects of the mentioned decision with regard to the law of the sea. By doing it so, MARPOL Annex VI and its relation to the Barcelona Convention system and other related international legal documents, will be discussed under the law of the sea.

Keywords

International Law of the Sea, Protection of the Marine Environment, Barcelona Convention, MARPOL Annex VI, Med SOx ECA, UNEP/MAP, IMO

Akdeniz’in MARPOL Ek VI Kapsamında Kükürt Oksitler (Med SOx ECA) İçin Emisyon Kontrol Alanı Olarak Belirlenmesinin Deniz Hukuku Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Akdeniz’in Deniz Ortamı ve Kıyı Bölgesinin Korunması Sözleşmesi (Barselona Sözleşmesi) ve Protokollerine Taraf Devletlerin 22. Top-lantısı (COP 22), 7-10 Aralık 2021 tarihlerinde Antalya'da gerçekleştirilmiştir. Toplantıda, 1978 Protokolü ile düzenlenen ve 1997 Protokolü ile daha da değiştirilen 1973 tarihli Denizlerin Gemilerden Kirlenmesini Önleme Uluslararası Sözleşmesi (MARPOL) Ek VI uyarınca Akdeniz'in Sülfür Oksitler için Emisyon Kontrol Alanı (Med SOx ECA) olarak belirlenmesine ilişkin önemli bir karar kabul edilmiştir.
Karar, Taraf Devletler arasında, Birleşmiş Milletler Çevre Programı Akdeniz Eylem Planı (UNEP/MAP) tarafından teşvik edilen yoğun istişarelerin bir sonucudur. Bu karar ile deniz taşımacılığı sektöründen kaynaklanan zararlı SOx salınımlarından zarar gören insan sağlığı ve ekosistemlerin bütünlüğü için önemli faydalar sağlaması beklenmektedir. Karar, Med SOx ECA'nın oluşturulmasına ilişkin ortak ve eşgüdümlü bir teklifin 2022 yılında Uluslararası Denizcilik Örgütü'nün (IMO) 78. Deniz Çevresini Koruma Komitesi'ne (MEPC 78) sunulmasının önünü açmaktadır. Med SOx ECA’nın Ocak 2025'te yürürlüğe girmesi beklenmektedir.
Bu makalenin temel hedefi, söz konusu kararın deniz hukuku açısından olası etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Bu amaçla, MARPOL Ek VI ve Barselona Sözleşmesi sistemi ve diğer ilgili uluslararası hukuki belgelerle olan ilişkisi deniz hukuku kapsamında ele alınacaktır.

Keywords

Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku, Deniz Çevresinin Korunması, Barselona Sözleşmesi, MARPOL Ek VI, Med SOx ECA, UNEP/MAP, IMO

References

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