Special Areas Under MARPOL 73/78

 Special Areas:

• A special area means a sea area where for recognised technical reasons in relation to its Oceanographical and Ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution is required.

• MARPOL defines certain Sea areas as Special areas with respect to Annex I Prevention of Pollution by oil, Annex II Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substance, Annex IV Prevention of pollution by sewage and Annex V Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from ships, under the convention these special areas are provided with a higher level of protection than other areas of the sea.

• Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air pollution from ships establishes certain sulphur oxide (SOx) Emission Control Areas with stringent controls on sulphur emissions and nitrogen oxide (NOx) Emission Control Areas for Tier III NOx emission standards.    

For the purpose of Annex I, the following are the Special Areas

1. The Mediterranean Sea Area
2. The Baltic Sea Area
3. The Black Sea Area
4. The Red Sea Area
5. The Gulf Area
6. The Gulf of Aden Area
7. The Antarctic Area
8. The North-West European Waters
9. The Oman Area of the Arabian Sea
10. The Southern South African Waters

For the purpose of Annex II, the following are the special Areas

1. The Antarctic Area

For the purpose of Annex IV, the following are the Special Areas

1. The Baltic Sea Area
2. The Other Sea Areas designated by the Organisation in accordance with criteria and procedures for designation of special areas with respect to prevention of pollution by sewage from ships.

For the purpose of Annex V, the following are the Special Areas

1. The Mediterranean Sea Area
2. The Baltic Sea Area
3. The Black Sea Area
4. The Red Sea Area
5. The Gulf Sea Area
6. The North Sea Area
7. The Antarctic Area
8. The Wider Caribbean Region

For the purpose of Annex, VI, the following are the Emission Control Areas 

1. The North American Emission Control Area
2. The United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area
3. The Baltic Sea Emission Control Area  
4. The North Sea Emission Control Area 

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Reference: IMO Publications & Documents - International Conventions - MARPOL