International regulations
General
Most regulations aimed at protecting the
environment applicable to shipping are of international origin. The
most comprehensive international convention is MARPOL 73/78 (The
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships), adopted by the IMO. Detailed provisions on prevention of
pollution from ships are also found in other resolutions and codes
issued by the IMO, recommendations from HELCOM as well as EC
directives and regulations. The provisions have been incorporated
into Swedish laws, ordinances and regulations so that they are
applicable in Sweden.
International organisations
IMO
IMO, the International Maritime Organization, whose
headquarters are in London, is the UN body for matters related to
international shipping. Representatives from many countries
(including Sweden) all over the world are involved in the work of
the IMO and in negotiating common rules for shipping. Environmental
issues are mainly dealt with in the MEPC, Marine Environment
Protection Committee. Proposals for regulations and regulatory
amendments are prepared in various sub-committees and then
submitted to the MEPC for decision. Proposed amendments to
conventions and resolutions issued by the IMO come from individual
countries or the official international organisations represented
in the IMO.
HELCOM
The Helsinki Commission, HELCOM, works to protect
the marine Baltic Sea environment from all types of pollution.
Regional agreements among Denmark, Estonia, the EU, Finland,
Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden are made
within the framework of HELCOM. The first Convention on the
Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (the
“Helsinki Convention”) was signed in 1974 and a new
Convention was signed in 1992 and entered into force in January
2000.
EU
So far, the EU does not have extensive regulations
protecting the marine environment because IMO regulations shall
also apply in Europe. There are some areas in which the EU has
introduced stricter regulations or preceded the IMO in order to put
pressure on countries to ratify a particular convention issued by
the IMO.
Rules and regulations
MARPOL
MARPOL 73/78 (The International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships) consists of six annexes
containing regulations on prevention of pollution from oil, noxious
liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances in packaged form,
sewage and garbage. The last annex contains regulations
on prevention of air pollution. MARPOL also includes
codes (the IMDG Code, the IBC Code and the BCH Code) with more
detailed provisions. IMO has also drafted resolutions and circulars
pertaining to environmental protection.
HELCOM recommendations
HELCOM has issued a number of recommendations that
countries have committed to incorporating into their national laws.
The recommendations, like the current convention, are found on
the HELCOM website. One example of an important effort being
pursued by HELCOM is the “Baltic Strategy,” according
to which ships should deposit waste on land instead of
“dumping” it at sea.
EU directives and regulations
The EU has issued a number of directives and
regulations pertaining to marine environment protection. There is a
regulation banning the use of TBT in antifouling systems on ships,
for instance, as well as directives regulating what are referred to
as inland waterways.
National regulations
General
Most regulations aimed at protecting the
environment applicable to shipping are of international
origin. The provisions are made applicable in Sweden by
incorporating them into Swedish laws, ordinances and regulations.
Certain regulations apply only in Sweden, such as regulations on
special actions to prevent pollution from ships operating
in Lake Mälaren, the Trollhättan Canal and Lake
Vänern.
Acts, ordinances and regulations
The act and ordinance upon which regulations
pertaining to environmental protection issued by the Swedish
Maritime Administration are the Act (1980:424) on Prevention
of Pollution from Ships and the Ordinance (1980:789) on Prevention
of Pollution from Ships. The regulations are found in the
regulations of the Swedish Maritime Administration (SJÖFS
2007:15) and General Advice on prevention of pollution from
ships.
Other regulations pertaining to environmental pollution include
the regulations of the Swedish Maritime Administration (SJÖFS
2001:12) and General Advice on reception of waste from ships
and the regulations of the Swedish Maritime Administration
(SJÖFS 2001:13) on reception of waste from recreational
craft.