15.1 The Committee recalled that, at MEPC 48, it approved the updated thematic priorities and the Committee's contribution to the Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP) for 2004-2005 prepared by the Secretariat. These formed the basis for the preparation of the marine environment-related components of the overall ITCP for 2004-2005. The Committee further recalled that the main changes in the new priorities, in comparison with the ones for 2002-2003, relate mainly to matters pertaining to air pollution from ships, ship recycling, the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems, the guidelines on the identification and protection of Special Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) and ballast water control and management measures. The Technical Co-operation Division of the Organization prepared the ITCP for 2004-2005, based on contributions from technical committees, including MEPC. The ITCP for 2004-2005 was approved by TC 53.

　

15.2 The Committee noted that document MEPC 49/INF.14 by the Secretariat relates mainly to the ITCP for 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 and gives a status report on the activities of the programme on a region-by-region basis, during the period from January 2001 to December 2002. The principal achievements include the training of officials in seminars/workshops/training courses on marine environment protection, including OPRC and MARPOL, promotion and enhancement of regional co-operation through developing regional actions such as the strategic action plans for the implementation of MARPOL and OPRC, regional contingency plans for combating oil pollution, environmental management guidelines for port operations.

　

15.3 The Committee also noted that MEPC 49/INF.11 by ROPME/MEMAC contains a summary of the main activities carried out by the Regional Organization for Protection of the Marine Environment/Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (ROPME/MEMAC) on protection of the marine environment in the ROPME Sea Area (RSA) since MEPC 48. These pertain to the ratification and implementation of MARPOL 73/78 and the provision of reception facilities and of the OPRC 90 Convention and related matters. The report covered also matters pertaining to the global ballast water management programme and to the survey of war-related wrecks and provides information on the roles, responsibilities and membership of ROPME/MEMAC.

　

15.4 The Committee further noted that MEPC 49/INF.12 by the Secretariat provides information on activities carried out under the aegis of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) during the period from August 2000 to April 2003. These include activities related to the Centre's major role in collecting and disseminating information, the development of national and sub-regional systems for preparedness and response and coordination of assistance to member countries in cases of emergency. Information is also provided on the Centre's co-operation with other organizations and also on the adoption and ratification of a new Prevention and Emergency Protocol to the Barcelona Convention.

　

15.5 In addition, document MEPC 49/INF.13 by the Secretariat provides information on activities carried out under the aegis of the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Building Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) during the period from January 2001 to December 2002. The report focuses on the development objectives of the Programme for 1999.2005 and also gives indication of the PEMSEA participating countries.

　

15.6 In commenting on the documents, the delegation of Ecuador expressed its appreciation for IMO's assistance provided earlier this year for the organizing of a national seminar on maritime safety and marine environment related matters. That delegation also expressed its readiness to host the second follow-up seminar sometime in October 2003 with assistance from the Organization.

　

15.7 The Committee noted the info mation provided.

　

　

　

　

16.1 The Committee recalled that the Bahamian oil tanker Prestige sank off Cape Finisterre, Spain, on 19 November 2002. The sinking of the vessel caused a serious pollution to the Spanish, French and Portuguese shores. It is worth mentioning that the accident did not cause any fatalities or injuries.

　

16.2 The Prestige was a single-hull oil tanker of 81,589 DWT delivered on 1 March 1976. At the time of sinking it was operating on the CBT mode. According to the schedule set up in regulation 13G(4) of the current Annex I, the ship would have been phased out on 1 March 2005.

　

16.3 Up to date no firm conclusion has yet been reached as to the causes of the accident since the investigation is still under progress.

　

　

16.4 The Committee noted that, following the incident, the 15 European Union Member States and the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend MARPOL Annex I, as amended, which is contained in document MEPC 49/16/1.

　

16.5 The Committee further noted that, in order that it could consider the proposed amendments and take action, as appropriate, against a full background of relevant information, the Secretary-General had taken the initiative of re-activating the Informal Group of Experts on Impact Assessment of the Proposals that was commissioned in the wake of the Erika incident in 2000. The outcome of the Expert Group was contained in documents MEPC 49/INF.34 and Add.1, while document MEPC 49/16/2 by the Secretary-General provided information on the re-establishment of the Expert Group.

　

16.6 The Committee agreed to take into account the outcome of the Expert Group in its consideration of the proposed amendments.

　

　

16.7 The Committee recalled that the Council, at its ninetieth session, had agreed to hold an extra session of the MEPC during the Assembly in December, subject to the decision of the Committee on the need to hold such a session.

　

16.8 The Committee noted that the proposed amendments had been circulated by the Secretary-General by circular letter No.2458 of 10 April 2003, fulfilling the mandatory six-month interval for circulation of amendments in accordance with article 16 of the MARPOL Convention. The amendments, if adopted by the extra session of the Committee in December 2003, would then enter into force in April 2005, which is the earliest possible date in accordance with relevant provisions of article 16 of the MARPOL Convention.

　

　

16.9 The Committee noted that two documents had been submitted on the investigation into the loss of the Prestige (MEPC 49/16/4 by the Bahamas and MEPC 49/16/8 by the Association of European Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers - AWES). The documents commented on, inter alia, the structural condition, ship repairing practices, quality of coatings, scantlings and some other issues that were more related to the remit of the MSC.

　

16.10 The Committee agreed to take both documents into account in its deliberations of the proposed amendments to MARPOL Annex I, and to request the MSC to consider them in its work from the safety point of view.

　

　

16.11 In introducing document MEPC 49/16/1, the delegation of Italy, on behalf of the other 14 Member States of the European Union, expressed its appreciation to IMO for having offered the opportunity of an urgent action to deal with issues related to enhancing the protection of the marine environment by means of amendments to the MARPOL Convention. The delegation of Italy stressed that IMO is the appropriate forum to consider and adopt safety and pollution prevention standards affecting international shipping.

　

16.12 The delegation of Italy, having welcomed the comments provided by other delegations on the proposal, stated that the European Union was determined to present a global strategy aimed at developing new measures for a better protection of the marine environment and promoting quality shipping. The three main elements of the European Union proposal were then highlighted as follows:

　

　

16.13 The delegation of Italy stressed that the European Union proposal was in line with the requirements of the United States' Oil Pollution Act 1990, therefore if the proposal was deemed appropriate and, if adopted by the Committee, a uniform international scheme would be applicable worldwide.

　

16.14 As regards the proposed ban for the carriage of HGO by single-hull tankers, the delegation of Italy mentioned the perceived anomaly that the worst oil products are carried by the worst ships. The rationale behind the European Union's proposal is that the most polluting substances should be carried by the safest ships available. The delegation of Italy proposed the establishment of a Working Group to consider the proposed amendments.

　

16.15 The observer of the European Commission expressed its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the Organization for his consistent approach regarding the consideration of the proposal and welcomed IMO's commitment, while stressing that the European Union recognizes the n d of applying global standards to international shipping.

　

16.16 The representative of the European Commission urged the Committee to take pro-active action for an advanced phasing-out of single-hull tankers and underlined that IMO had already taken action back in 1992 when it decided to phase-in double-hull tankers as from 1996. In the view of the representative of the European Commission, a positive response by IMO would send a strong signal to the world.

　

16.17 In introducing document MEPC 49/16/10, the delegation of Japan stated that Japan, while supporting in principle the acceleration of the phase-out of old single-hull oil tankers, has comments on the proposal by the EU countries on the following points: