For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 15, 2003
Message to the Senate of the United States
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to
its ratification, the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as
Modified by the Protocol of 1978 thereto (hereinafter the "Protocol of
1997"). The Protocol of 1997, which would add Annex VI, Regulations
for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as
Modified by the Protocol of 1978 (hereinafter the "MARPOL Convention"),
was signed by the United States on December 22, 1998. I also enclose,
for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of
State and its attached analysis of the Protocol of 1997, as well as
Resolution 2 of the 1997 MARPOL Conference with its annexed Technical
Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel
Engines.
The MARPOL Convention is the global agreement to control pollution
from ships. MARPOL Annex VI regulates the emission into the atmosphere
of specified pollutants from ships. It complements the other annexes
to the MARPOL Convention, which relate to the transport of oil (Annex
I), harmful substances carried in bulk (Annex II), harmful substances
in packaged form (Annex III), ship-generated sewage (Annex IV) and
garbage (Annex V). The United States is a party to all of these
annexes with the exception of Annex IV.
MARPOL Annex VI regulates the prevention of air pollution from
ships by limiting the discharge of nitrogen oxides from large marine
diesel engines, governing the sulfur content of marine diesel fuel,
prohibiting the emission of ozone-depleting substances, regulating the
emission of volatile organic compounds during the transfer of cargoes
between tankers and terminals, setting standards for shipboard
incinerators and fuel oil quality, and establishing requirements for
platforms and drilling rigs at sea.
MARPOL Annex VI is an important step toward controlling and
preventing emissions of harmful air pollutants from ships. U.S.
ratification of the Protocol of 1997 will demonstrate U.S. commitment
to an international solution and should hasten the entry into force of
the Protocol of 1997. Ratification will also enhance our ability to
work within the treaty framework to obtain subsequent amendments that
will require further reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides that
are now achievable through the use of modern control technologies which
the United States strongly supports.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
to the Protocol of 1997 and give its advice and consent to
ratification, subject to the declarations and understanding set out in
the accompanying report of the Secretary of State.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 15, 2003.
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