CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALTIC SEA AREA Adopted at Helsinki on 22 March 1974 The States Parties to this Convention, Conscious of the indispensable economic, social and cultural values of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area and its living resources for the peoples of the Contracting Parties; Bearing in mind the exceptional hydrographic and ecological characteristics of the Baltic Sea Area and the sensitivity of its living resources to changes in the environment; Noting the rapid development of human activities at the Baltic Sea Area, the considerable population living within its catchment area and the highly urbanized and industrialized state of the Contracting Parties as well as their intensive agriculture and forestry; Noting with deep concern the increasing pollution of the Baltic Sea or Area, originating from many sources such as discharges through rivers, estuaries, outfalls and pipelines, dumping and normal operations of vessels as well as through airborne pollutants; Conscious of the responsibility of the Contracting Parties to protect and enhance the values of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area for the benefit of their peoples; Recognizing that the protection and enhancement of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area are tasks that cannot effectively be accomplished by national efforts only but that also close regional co-operation and other appropriate international measures aiming at fulfilling these tasks are urgently needed; Noting that the relevant recent international conventions even after having entered into force for the respective Contracting Parties do not cover all special requirements to protect and enhance the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area; Noting the importance of scientific and technological co-operation in the protection and enhancement of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area, particularly between the Contracting Parties; Desiring to develop further regional co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area, the possibilities and requirements of which were confirmed by the signing of the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and the Belts, Gdansk 1973; Conscious of the importance of regional intergovernmental co-operation in the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area as an integral part of the peaceful co-operation and mutual understanding between all European States; Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Convention area For the purposes of the present Convention "the Baltic Sea Area" shall be the Baltic Sea proper with the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the entrance to the Baltic Sea bounded by the parallel of the Skaw in the Skagerrak at 570 44'8" N. It does not include internal waters of the Contracting Parties. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of the present Convention: 1. "Pollution" means introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment, including estuaries resulting in such deleterious effects as hazard to human health, harm to living resources and marine life, hindrance to legitimate uses of the sea including fishing, impairment of the quality for use of sea water, and reduction of amenities; 2. "land-based pollution" means pollution of the sea caused by discharges from land reaching the sea waterborne, airborne or directly from the coast, including outfalls from pipelines; 3. a) "Dumping" means: (i) any deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea; (ii) any deliberate disposal at sea of vessels aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea; b) "Dumping" does not include: (i) the disposal at sea of wastes or other matter incidental to, or derived from the normal operations of vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea and their equipment, other than wastes or other matter transported by or to vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea, operating for the purpose of disposal of such matter or derived from the treatment of such wastes or other matter or such vessels, aircraft, platforms or structures; disposal of such matter or derived from the treatment of such wastes or other matter or such vessels, aircraft, platforms or structures; (ii) placement or matter for a purpose other than the mere disposal thereof, provided that such placement is not contrary to the aims of the present Convention; 4. "Vessels and aircraft" means waterborne or airborne craft of any type whatsoever. This expression includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft whether self-propelled or not, and fixed or floating platforms; 5. "Oil" means petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products; 6. "Harmful substances" means any hazardous, noxious or other substances, which, if introduced into the sea, is liable to cause pollution; 7. "Incident" means any event involving the actual or probable discharge into the sea of a harmful substance, or effluents containing such a substance. Article 3 Fundamental principles and obligations 1. The Contracting Parties shall individually or jointly take all appropriate legislative, administrative or other relevant measures in order to prevent and abate pollution and to protect and enhance the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area. 2. The Contracting Parties shall use their best endeavours to ensure that the implementation of the present Convention shall not cause an increase in the pollution of sea areas outside the Baltic Sea Area. Article 4 Application 1. The present Convention shall apply to the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area which comprises the water-body and the sea-bed including their living resources and other forms of marine life. 2. Without prejudice to the sovereign rights in regard to their territorial sea, each Contracting Party shall implement the provisions of the present Convention within its territorial sea through its national authorities. 3. While the provisions of the present Convention do not apply to internal waters which are under the sovereignty of each Contracting Party, they undertake, without prejudice to their sovereign rights, to ensure that the purposes of the present Convention will be obtained in these waters. 4. The present Convention shall not apply to any warship naval auxiliary, military aircraft or other ship and aircraft owned or operated by a State and used, for the time being, only on governmental non-commercial service. However, each Contracting Party shall ensure, by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing the operations or operational capabilities of such ships and aircraft owned or operated by it, that such ships and aircraft act in a manner consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, with the present Convention. Article 5 Hazardous substances The Contracting Parties undertake to counteract the introduction, waterborne or otherwise, into the Baltic Sea Area of hazardous substances as specified in Annex I of the present Convention. Article 6 Principles and obligations concerning land-based pollution 1. The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area. 2. In particular, the Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances and materials in accordance with Annex II of the present Convention. To this end they shall, inter alia, as appropriate co-operate in the development and adoption of specific programmed guidelines, standards or regulations concerning discharges, environmental quality, and products containing such substances and materials and their use. 3. The substances and materials listed in Annex II of the present Convention shall not be introduced into the marine environment of the Baltic Sea in significant quantities without a prior special permit, which may be periodically reviewed, by the appropriate national authority. 4. The appropriate national authority will inform the Commission referred to in Article 12 of the present Convention of the quantity, quality and way of discharge if it considers that significant quantities of substances and materials listed in Annex II of the present Convention were discharged. 5. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish and adopt common criteria for issuing permits for discharges. 6. To control and minimize pollution of the Baltic Sea Area by harmful substances the Contracting Parties shall, in addition to the provisions of Article 5 of the present Convention, aim at attaining the goals and applying the criteria enumerated in Annex III of the present Convention. 7. If the discharge from a watercourse, flowing through the territories of two or more Contracting Parties or forming a boundary between them, is liable to cause pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area, the Contracting Parties concerned shall in common take appropriate measures in order to prevent and abate such pollution. 8. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to use best practicable means in order to minimize the airborne pollution of the Baltic Sea Area by noxious substances. Article 7 Prevention of pollution from ships 1. In order to protect the Baltic Sea Area from pollution by deliberate, negligent or accidental release of oil, harmful substances other than oil and by the discharge of sewage and garbage from ships, the Contracting Parties shall take measures as set out in Annex IV of the present Convention. 2. The Contracting Parties shall develop and apply uniform requirements for the capacity and location of facilities for the reception of residues of oil, harmful substances other than oil, including sewage and garbage, taking into account inter alia the special needs of passenger ships and combination carriers. Article 8 Pleasure craft The Contracting Parties shall, in addition to implementing those provisions of the present Convention which can appropriately be applied to pleasure craft, take special measures in order to abate harmful effects on the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area of pleasure craft activities. The measures shall inter alia deal with adequate reception facilities of wastes from pleasure craft. Article 9 Prevention of dumping 1. The Contracting Parties shall, subject to Paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Article, prohibit dumping in the Baltic Sea Area. 2. Dumping of dredged spoils shall be subject to a prior special permit by the appropriate national authority in accordance with the provisions of Annex V of the present Convention. 3. Each Contracting Party undertakes to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Article by vessels and aircraft: a) registered in its territory or flying its flag; b) loading, within its territory or territorial sea matter which is to be dumped; or c) believed to be engaged in dumping within its territorial sea. 4. The provisions of this Article shall not apply when the safety of human life or of a vessel or aircraft at sea is threatened by the complete destruction or total loss of the vessel or aircraft, or in any case which constitutes a danger to human life, if dumping appears to be the only way of averting the threat and if there is every probability that the damage consequent upon such dumping will be less than would otherwise occur. Such dumping shall be so conducted as to minimize the likelihood of damage to human or marine life. 5. Dumping made under the provisions of Paragraph 4 of this Article shall be reported and dealt with in accordance with Annex VI of the present Convention and shall also be reported forthwith to the Commission referred to in Article 12 of the present Convention in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 4 of Annex V of the present Convention. 6. In case of dumping suspected to be in contravention of the provisions of this Article the Contracting Parties shall co-operate in investigating the matter in accordance with Regulation 2 of Annex IV of the present Convention. Article 10 Exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and its subsoil Each Contracting Party shall take all appropriate measures in order to prevent pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area resulting from exploration or exploitation of its part of the sea-bed and its subsoil or from any associated activities thereon. It shall also ensure that adequate equipment is at hand to start an immediate abatement of pollution in that area. Article 11 Co-operation in combating marine pollution The Contracting Parties shall take measures and co-operate as set out in Annex VI of the present Convention in order to eliminate or minimize pollution of the Baltic Sea Area by oil or other harmful substances. Article 12 Institutional and organizational framework 1. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, hereinafter referred to as "the Commission", is hereby established for the purposes of the present Convention. 2. The chairmanship of the Commission shall be given to each Contracting Party in turn in alphabetical order of the names of the States in the English language. The Chairman shall serve for a period of two years, and cannot during the period of his chairmanship serve as representative of his country. Should the chairmanship fall vacant, the Contracting Party chairing the Commission shall nominate a successor to remain in office until the term of chairmanship of that Contracting Party expires. 3. Meetings of the Commission shall be held at least once a year upon convocation by the Chairman. Upon the request of a Contracting Party, provided it is endorsed by another Contracting Party, the Chairman shall, as soon as possible, summon an extraordinary meeting at such time and place as the Chairman determines, however, not later than ninety days from the date of the submission of the request. 4. The first meeting of the Commission shall be called by the Depositary Government and shall take place within a period of ninety days from the date following the entry into force of the present Convention. 5. Each Contracting Party shall have one vote in the Commission. Unless otherwise provided under the present Convention, the Commission shall take its decisions unanimously. Article 13 The duties of the Commission The duties of the Commission shall be: a) To keep the implementation of the present Convention under continuous observation; b) To make recommendations on measures relating to the purposes of the present Convention; c) To keep under review the contents of the present Convention including its Annexes and to recommend to the Contracting Parties such amendments to the present Convention including its Annexes as may be required including changes in the lists of substances and materials as well as the adoption of new Annexes; d) To define pollution control criteria, objectives for the reduction of pollution, and objectives concerning measures, particularly according to Annex III of the present Convention; e) To promote in close co-operation with appropriate governmental bodies, taking into consideration sub-Paragraph (f) of this Article, additional measures to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area and for this purpose: (i) to receive, process, summarize and disseminate from available sources relevant scientific, technological and statistical information; and (ii) to promote scientific and technological research; f) To seek, when appropriate, the services of competent regional and other international organizations to collaborate in scientific and technological research as well as other relevant activities pertinent to the objectives of the present Convention; g) To assume such other functions as may be appropriate under the terms of the present Convention. Article 14 Administrative provisions for the Commission 1. The working language of the Commission shall be English. 2. The Commission shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. 3. The office of the Commission, hereafter referred to as the "Secretariat", shall be in Helsinki. 4. The Commission shall appoint an Executive Secretary and make provisions for the appointment of such other personnel as may be necessary, and determine the duties, terms and conditions of the Executive Secretary. 5. The Executive Secretary shall be the chief administrative official of the Commission and shall perform the functions that are necessary for the administration of the present Convention, the work of the Commission and other tasks entrusted to the Executive Secretary by the Commission and its Rules of Procedure. Article 15 Financial provisions for the Commission 1. The Commission shall adopt its Financial Rules. 2. The Commission shall adopt an annual or biennial budget of proposed expenditures and budget estimates for the fiscal period following thereafter. 3. The total amount of the budget, including any supplementary budget adopted by the Commission, shall be contributed by the Contracting Parties in equal parts, unless the Commission unanimously decides otherwise. 4. Each Contracting Party shall pay the expenses related to the participation in the Commission of its representatives, experts and advisers. Article 16 Scientific and technological co-operation 1. The Contracting Parties undertake directly, or when appropriate through competent regional and other international organizations, to co-operate in the fields of science, technology and other research, and to exchange data as well as other scientific information for the purposes of the present Convention. 2. Without prejudice to Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 4 of the present Convention the Contracting Parties undertake directly, or when appropriate through competent regional or other international organisations, to promote studies, undertake, support or contribute to programmes aimed at developing ways and means for the assessment of the nature and extent of pollution, pathways, exposures, risks and remedies in the Baltic Sea Area, and particularly to develop alternative methods of treatment, disposal and eliminations of such matter and substances that are likely to cause pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area. 3. The Contracting Parties undertake, directly, or when appropriate through competent or other international organizations, and, on the basis of the information and data acquired pursuant to Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, to co-operate in developing inter-comparable observation methods in performing baseline studies and in establishing complementary or joint programmes for monitoring. 4. The organizations and scope of work connected with the implementation of tasks referred to in the preceding Paragraphs should primarily be outlined by the Commission. Article 17 Responsibility for damage The Contracting Parties undertake, as soon as possible, jointly to develop and accept rules concerning responsibility for damage resulting from acts or omissions in contravention of the present Convention, including inter alia, limits of responsibility, criteria and procedures for the determination of liability and available remedies. Article 18 1. In case of a dispute between Contracting Parties as to the interpretation or application of the present Convention, they should seek a solution by negotiation. If the Parties concerned cannot reach agreement they should seek the good offices of or jointly request the mediation by a third Contracting Party, a qualified international organization or a qualified person. 2. If the Parties concerned have not been able to resolve their dispute through negotiation or have been unable to agree on measures as described above, such disputes shall be, upon common agreement, submitted to an ad-hoc arbitration tribunal, to a permanent arbitration tribunal, or to the International Court of Justice. Article 19 Safeguard of certain freedoms Nothing in the present Convention shall be construed as infringing upon the freedom of navigation, fishing, marine scientific research and other legitimate uses of the high seas, as well as upon the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. Article 20 Status of Annexes The Annexes attached to the present Convention form an integral part of the Convention. Article 21 Relation to other Conventions The provisions of the present Convention shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties under treaties concluded previously as well as under treaties which may be concluded in the future, furthering and developing the general principles of the Law of the Sea that the present Convention is based upon and in particular provisions concerning the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. Article 22 Revision of the Convention A conference for the purpose of a general revision of the present Convention may be convened with the consent of the Contracting Parties or at the request of the Commission. Article 23 Amendments to the Articles of the Convention 1. Each Contracting Party may propose amendments to the Articles of the present Convention. Any such proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Depositary Government and communicated by it to all Contracting Parties which shall inform the Depositary Government of either their acceptance or rejection of the amendment as soon as possible after the receipt of the communication. The amendment shall enter into force ninety days after the Depositary Government has received notifications of acceptance of that amendment from all Contracting Parties. 2. With the consent of the Contracting Parties or at the request of the Commission a conference may be convened for the purpose of amending the present Convention. Article 24 Amendments to the Annexes and the adoption of Annexes 1. Any amendment to the Annexes proposed by a Contracting Party shall be communicated to the other Contracting Parties by the Depositary Government and considered in the Commission. If adopted by the Commission, the amendment shall be communicated to the Contracting Parties and recommended for acceptance. 2. Such amendment shall be deemed to have been accepted at the end of a period determined by the Commission unless within that period any one of the Contracting Parties has objected to the amendment. The accepted amendment shall enter into force on a date determined by the Commission. The period determined by the Commission shall be prolonged for an additional period of six months and the date of entry into force of the amendment postponed accordingly, if, in exceptional cases, any Contracting Party before the expiry of the period determined by the Commission informs the Depositary Government, that, although it intends to accept the proposal, the constitutional requirements for such an acceptance are not yet fulfilled in its State. 3. An Annex to the present Convention may be adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 4. The Depositary Government shall inform all Contracting Parties of any amendments or the adoption of a new Annex which enter into force under this Article and of the date on which such amendment or new Annex enters into force. 5. Any objection under this Article shall be made by notification in writing to the Depositary Government which shall notify all Contracting Parties and the Executive Secretary of any such notification and the date of its receipt. Article 25 Reservations 1. The provisions of the present Convention shall not be subject to reservations. 2. The provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Article does not prevent a Contracting Party from suspending for a period not exceeding one year the application of an Annex of the present Convention or part thereof or an amendment thereof after the Annex in question or the amendment thereto has entered into force. 3. If after the entry into force of the present Convention a Contracting Party invokes the provisions of Paragraph 2 of this Article it shall inform the other Contracting Parties, at the time of the adoption by the Commission of an amendment to an Annex or a new annex, of those provisions which will be suspended in accordance with Paragraph 2 of this Article. Article 26 Signature, ratification, approval and accession 1. The present Convention shall be open for signature in Helsinki on 22 March 1974 by the Baltic Sea Area States participating in the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, held in Helsinki from 18 to 22 March 1974. The present Convention shall be open for accession to any other State interested in fulfilling the aims and purposes of the present Convention, provided that this State is invited by all the Contracting Parties. 2. The present Convention shall be subject to ratification or approval by the States which have signed it. 3. The instruments of ratification, approval, or accession shall be deposited with the Government of Finland, which will perform the duties of the Depositary Government. Article 28 Withdrawal 1. At any time after the expiry of five years from the date of entry into force of the present Convention any Contracting Party may, by giving written notification to the Depositary Government, withdraw from the present Convention. The withdrawal shall take effect for such Contracting Party on the thirty-first day of December of the year which follows the year in which the Depositary Government was notified of the withdrawal. 2. In case of notification of withdrawal by a Contracting Party the Depositary Government shall convene a meeting of the Contracting Parties for the purpose of considering the effects of the withdrawal. Article 29 Language The present Convention has been drawn up in a single copy in the English language. Official translations into the Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, Russian, and Swedish languages shall be prepared and deposited with the signed original. In Witness Whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto, have signed the present Convention. Done at Helsinki this twenty-second day of March one thousand nine hundred and seventy-four. ANNEX I HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES The protection of the Baltic Sea Area from pollution by the substances listed below can involve the use of appropriate technical means, prohibitions and regulations of the transport, trade, handling application, and final deposition of products containing such substances. 1. (DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(chlorophenyl)-ethane) and its derivatives DDE and DDD. 2. PCB's (polychlorinated byphenyls). ANNEX II NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES AND MATERIALS The following substances and materials are listed for the purposes of Article 6 of the present Convention. The list is valid for substances and materials introduced as waterborne into the marine environment. The Contracting Parties shall also endeavour to use best practicable means to prevent harmful substances and materials from being introduced as airborne into the Baltic Sea Area. A. For urgent consideration 1. Mercury, cadmium, and their compounds. B. 2. Antimony, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, selemium, tin, vanadium, zinc, and their compounds, as well as elemental phosphorus. 3. Phenols and their derivatives. 4. Phthalic acid and its derivatives. 5. Cyanides. 6. Persistent halogenated hydrocarbons. 7. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives. 8. Persistent toxic organosilicic compounds. 9. Persistent pesticides, including organophosophoric and organostannic pesicides, herbicides, slimicides and chemicals used for the preservation of wood, timber, wood pulp, cellulose, paper, hides and textiles, not covered by the provisions of Annex I of the present Convention. 10. Radioactive materials. 11. Acids, alkalis and surface active agents in high concentrations or big quantities. 12. Oil and wastes of petrochemical and other industries containing lipid-soluble substances. 13. Substances having adverse effects on the taste and/or smell of products for human consumption from the sea, or effects on taste, smell, colour, transparency or other characteristics of the water seriously reducing its amenity values. 14. Materials and substances which may float, remain in suspension or sink and which may seriously interfere with any legitimate use of the sea. 15. Lignin substances contained in industrial waste waters. 16. The chelators EDTA (ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and DPTA (diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid). ANNEX II GOALS, CRITERIA AND MEASURES CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF LAND-BASED POLLUTION In accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the present Convention the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to attain the goals and apply criteria and measures enumerated in this Annex in order to control and minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area. 1. Municipal sewage shall be treated in an appropriate way so that the amount of organic matter does not cause harmful changes in the oxygen content of the Baltic Sea Area and the amount of nutrients does not cause harmful eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Area. 2. Municipal sewage shall also be treated in an appropriate way to ensure that the hygienic quality and in particular epidemiological and texiocological safety of the receiving sea area is maintained at a level which does not cause harm to human health, and in a way that under the given composition of the sewage no significant amount of such harmful substances as are listed in Annexes I and II of the present Convention is formed. 3. The polluting load of industrial wastes shall be minimized in an appropriate way in order to reduce the amount of harmful substances, organic matter and nutrients. 4. The means referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Annex shall in particular include minimization of production of wastes by processing techniques, re-circulation and re-use of processing water, developing of water economy and improvement of qualifications for water treatment. In the treatment of waste water mechanical, chemical, biological and other measures, according to the quality of the waste water, and as required to maintain or improve the quality of the recipient water, shall be applied. 5. The discharge of cooling water from nuclear power plants or other kinds of industries using large amounts of water shall be effected in a way which minimizes the pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area. 6. The Commission will define pollution control criteria, objectives for reduction of pollution and objectives concerning measures, including processing techniques and waste treatment, to reduce pollution of the Baltic Sea Area. ANNEX IV PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS Regulation 1 The Contracting Parties shall as appropriate co-operate and assist each other in initiating action by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization to develop: a) international rules for navigation of deep draught ships in narrow and shallow waters in international waters of the Baltic Sea Area and in the entrances to the Baltic Sea for the prevention of collisions, strandings and groundings; b) an international radio reporting system for large ships en route within the Baltic Sea Area as well as for ships carrying a significant amount of a harmful substance. Regulation 2 The Contracting Parties shall, without prejudice to Paragraph 4 of Article 4 of the present Convention, as appropriate assist each other in investigating violations of the existing legislation on anti- pollution measures, which have occurred or are suspected to have occurred within the Baltic Sea Area. This assistance may include but is not limited to inspection by the competent authorities of oil record books, cargo record books, log books and engine log books and taking oil samples for analytical identification purposes and in respect of the system of tagging oil residues. Regulation 3 Definitions For the purposes of this Annex: 1. "Ship" means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft and fixed or floating platforms. 2. "Administration" means the Government of the State under whose authority the ship is operating. With respect to a ship entitled to fly a flag of any State, the Administration is the Government of that State. With respect of fixed or floating platforms engaged in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and subsoil thereof adjacent to the coast over which the coastal State exercises sovereign rights for the purposes of exploration and exploitation of their natural resources, the Administration is the Government of the coastal State concerned. 3. a) "Discharge", in relation to harmful substances or effluents containing such substances, means any release howsoever caused from a ship and includes any escape, disposal, spilling, leaking, pumping, emitting or emptying; b) "Discharge" does not include: (i) dumping within the meaning of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter done at London on 29 December 1972; or (ii) release of harmful substances directly arising from the exploration, exploitation and associated off-shore processing of sea-bed mineral resources; or (iii) release of harmful substances for purposes of legitimate scientific research into pollution abatement or control. 4. "Nearest land". The term "from the nearest land" means from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the territory in question is established in accordance with international law. 5. The term "jurisdiction" shall be interpreted in accordance with international law in force at the time of application or interpretation of this Annex. Regulation 4 Oil The Contracting Parties shall as soon as possible but not later than 1 January 1977 or on the date of entry into force of the present Convention, whichever occurs later, apply the provisions of Paragraph A to D of this Regulation on methods for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships while operating in the Baltic Sea Area. A. Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation: 1. "Oil" means petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products (other than petrochemicals which are subject to the provisions of Regulation 5 of this Annex) and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes the substances listed in Appendix I to this Annex. 2. "Oily mixture" means a mixture with any oil content. 3. "Oil fuel" means any oil used as fuel in connection with the propulsion and auxiliary machinery of the ship in which such oil is carried. 4. "Oil tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in its cargo space and includes combination carriers and any "chemical tanker" as defined in Regulation 5 of this Annex when it is carrying a cargo or part cargo of oil in bulk. 5. "Combination carrier" means a ship designed to carry either oil or solid cargoes in bulk. 6. "Clean ballast" means the ballast in a tank which since oil was last carried therein has been so cleaned that effluent therefrom if it were discharged from a ship which is stationery into clean water on a clear day would not produce visible traces of oil on the surface of the water or on adjoining shore lines or cause a sludge or emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or upon adjoining shore lines. If the ballast is discharged through an oil discharge monitoring and control system approved by the Administration, evidence based on such a system to the effect that the oil content of the effluent did not exceed 15 parts per million shall be determinative that the ballast was clean, notwithstanding the presence of visible trace. 7. "Segregated ballast" means the ballast water introduced into a tank which is completely separated from the cargo oil and oil fuel system and which is permanently allocated to the carriage of ballast or to the carriage of ballast or cargoes other than oil or noxious substances as variously defined in the Regulations of this Annex. B. Control of discharge of oil 1. a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraph C of this Regulation, any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from any oil tanker and any ship of 400 tons gross tonnage and above other than an oil tanker shall be prohibited, while in the Baltic Sea Area; b) such ships while in the Baltic Sea Area shall retain on board all oil drainage and sludge, dirty ballast and tank washings waters and discharge them only to reception facilities. 2. a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraph C of this Regulation, any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from a ship of less than 400 tons gross tonnage, other than an oil tanker, shall be prohibited while in the Baltic Sea Area, except when the oil content of the effluent without dilution does not exceed 15 parts per million or alternatively when all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the ship is proceeding en route; (ii) the oil content of the effluent is less than 100 parts per million; and (iii) the discharge is made as far as practicable from the land, but in no case less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land; b) no discharge into the sea shall contain chemicals or other substances in quantities or concentrations which are hazardous to the marine environment or chemicals or other substances introduced for the purpose of circumventing the conditions of discharge specified in this Regulation; c) the oil residues which cannot be discharged into the sea in compliance with Sub-Paragraph 2 (a) of this Paragraph shall be retained on board or discharged to reception facilities. 3. The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply to the discharge of clean or segregated ballast. 4. Whenever visible traces of oil are observed on or below the surface of the water in the immediate vicinity of a ship or its wake, the Contracting Parties should, to the extent they are reasonably able to do so, promptly investigate the facts bearing on the issue of whether there has been a violation of the provisions of this Regulation. The investigation should include, in particular, the wind and sea conditions, the track and speed of the ship, other possible sources of the visible traces in the vicinity, and any relevant oil discharge records. C. Exceptions Paragraph B of this Regulation shall not apply to: a) the discharge into the sea of oil mixtures necessary for the purpose of safety of a ship or saving life at sea; or b) the discharge into the sea of oil mixtures resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment: (i) provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and (ii) except if the owner or the Master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result; or c) the discharge into the sea of substances containing oil, approved by the Administration, when being used for the purpose of combating specific pollution incidents in order to minimize the damage from pollution. Any such discharge shall be subject to the approval of any Contracting Party in whose jurisdiction it is contemplated the discharge will occur. D. Special requirements for drilling rigs and other platforms Fixed and floating drilling rigs when engaged in the exploration, exploitation and associated offshore processing of sea-bed mineral resources and other platforms shall comply with the requirements of this Regulation applicable to ships of 400 tons gross tonnage and above other than oil tankers, except that: a) they shall keep a record of all operations involving oil or oily mixture discharges, in a form approved by the Administration; and b) subject to the provisions of Paragraph C of this Regulation, the discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture shall be prohibited except when the oil content of the discharge without dilution does not exceed 15 parts per million. E. Reception facilities of the baltic sea area The Contracting parties undertake to ensure that not later than 1 January 1977 all oil loading terminals and repair ports of the Baltic Sea Area are provided with facilities adequate for the reception and treatment of all the dirty ballast and tank washing waters from oil tankers. In addition all ports of the area shall be provided with adequate reception facilities for other residues and oily mixtures from all ships. Such facilities shall have adequate capacity to meet the needs of the ships using them without causing undue delay. Regulation 5 Noxious liquid substances in bulk The Contracting Parties shall as soon as possible, but not later than 1 January 1977 or at a date not later than one year after the date of the entry into force of the present Convention, whichever occurs later, decide upon a date from which the provisions of Paragraphs A to D of this Regulation on the discharge of noxious liquid substances in bulk from ships while operating in Baltic Sea Area shall apply. A. Definitions For the purpose of this Regulation: 1. "Chemical tanker" means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry a cargo of noxious liquid substances in bulk and includes an "oil tanker" as defined in Regulation 4 of this Annex when carrying a cargo or part cargo of noxious liquid substances in bulk. 2. "Clean ballast" means ballast carried in a tank which, since it was last used to carry a cargo containing a substance in Category A, B, C or D has been thoroughly cleaned and the residues resulting therefrom have been discharged and the tank emptied in accordance with the appropriate requirements of this Regulation. 3. "Segregated ballast" means ballast water introduced into a tank permanently allocated to the carriage of ballast or to the carriage of ballast or cargoes other than oil or noxious liquid substances as variously defined in the Regulations of this Annex, and which is completely separated from the cargo and oil fuel system. 4. "Liquid substances" are those having a vapour pressure not exceeding 2.8 kp/cm2 at a temperature of 37.80 C. 5. "Noxious liquid substance" means any substance designated in Appendix III to this Annex or provisionally assessed under the provisions of Sub-Paragraph 4 of Paragraph B of this Regulation as falling into Category A, B, C, or D. B. Categorization and listing of noxious substances 1. For the purposes of this Regulation noxious liquid substances shall be divided into four categories as follows: a) Category A - noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a major hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause serious harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore justify the application of stringent anti-pollution measures; b) Category B - noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore justify the application of special anti-pollution measures; c) Category C - noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a minor hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause minor harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore require special operational conditions; d) Category D - noxious liquid substances which if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations would present a recognizable hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause minimal harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore require some attention in operational conditions; 2. Guidelines for use in the categorization of noxious liquid substances are given in Appendix II to this Annex. 3. The list of noxious liquid substances carried in bulk and presently categorized which are subject to the provisions of this Regulation is set out in Appendix II to this Annex. 4. Where it is proposed to carry a liquid substance in bulk which has not been categorized under Paragraph (i) of this Regulation or evaluated as referred to in Regulation 4(1) of this Annex, the Governments of Parties to the Convention involved in the proposed operation shall establish and agree on a provisional assessment for the proposed operation on the basis of the guidelines referred to in Paragraph (2) of this Regulation. Until full agreement between the Governments involved has been reached, the substance shall be carried under the most severe conditions proposed. As soon as possible, but not later than ninety days after its first carriage, the Administration concerned shall notify the Organization and provide details of the substance and the provisional assessment for prompt circulation to all Parties for their information and consideration. The Government of each Party shall have a period of ninety days in which to forward its comments to the Organization, with a view to the assessment of the substance. C. Other liquid substances 1. The substances listed in Appendix III to this Annex have been evaluated and found to fall outside the Categories A, B, C and D, as defined in Regulation 3(1) of this Annex because they are presently considered to present no harm to human health, marine resources, amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea, when discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations. 2. The discharge of bilge or ballast water or other residues or mixtures containing only substances listed in Appendix III to this Annex shall not be subject to any requirements of this Annex. 3. The discharge into the sea of clean ballast or segregated ballast shall not be subject to any requirement of this Annex. D. Discharge of noxious liquid substances Subject to the provisions of Regulation E of this Regulation: 1. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category A as defined in Regulation 3(1)(a) of this annex or of those provisionally assessed as such or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. If tanks containing such substances or mixtures are to be washed, the resulting residues shall be discharged to a reception facility until the concentration of the substance in the effluent to such facility is at or below the residual concentration prescribed for that substance in column III of Appendix II of this Annex and until the tank is empty. Provided that the residue then remaining in the tank is subsequently diluted by the addition of a volume of water of not less than 5 per cent of the total volume of the tank, it may be discharged into the sea when all the following conditions are also satisfied: a) the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; b) the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and c) the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 25 metres. 2. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category B as defined in Sub-Paragraph 1 (b) of this Regulation or of those provisionally assessed as such or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: a) the tank has been washed after unloading with a volume of water of not less than 0.5 per cent of the total volume or the tank and the resulting residues have been discharged to a reception facility until the tank is empty; b) the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; c) the procedures and arrangements for discharge and washings are approved by the Administration and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern if the ship does not exceed 1 part per million; d) the discharge is made below the waterline, taking into account the location of the seawater intakes; and e) the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land and in a depth of water of not less than 24 metres. 3. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category C as defined in Sub-Paragraphs 1 (c) of Paragraph B of this Regulation or of those provisionally assessed as such or ballast water, or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: a) the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; b) the procedures and arrangements for discharge are approved by the Administration and shall ensure that the concentration and rate of discharge of the effluent is such that the concentration of the substance in the wake astern of the ship does not exceed 1 part per million; c) the maximum quantity of cargo discharged from each tank and its associated piping system does not exceed the maximum quantity approved in accordance with the procedures referred to in Sub-Paragraph 3 (b) of this Paragraph which shall in no case exceed the greater of 1 cubic metre or 1/3,000 of the tank capacity in cubic metres, 4. The discharge into the sea of substances in Category D as defined in Regulation 3 (1) (d) of this Annex, or of those provisionally assessed as such or ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited except when all the following conditions are satisfied: a) the ship is proceeding en route at a speed of at least 7 knots in the case of self-propelled ships or at least 4 knots in the case of ships which are not self-propelled; b) such mixtures are of a concentration not greater than one part of the substance in ten parts of water; and c) the discharge is made at a distance of not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land. 5. Ventilation procedures approved by the Administration may be used to remove cargo residues from a tank. Such procedures shall be based upon standards developed by the Organization. If subsequent washing of the tank is necessary, the discharge into the sea of the resulting tank washings shall be made in accordance with Paragraphs (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this Regulation, whichever is applicable. 6. The discharge into the sea of substances which have not been categorized, provisionally assessed, or evaluated as referred to in Regulation 4 (1) of this Annex, or of ballast water, tank washings, or other residues or mixtures containing such substances shall be prohibited. E. Exceptions Paragraph D of this Regulation shall not apply to: a) the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea; or b) the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment. (i) provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and (ii) except if the owner or the Master acted with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result; or c) the discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances, approved by the Administration, when being used for the purpose of combating specific position incidents in order to minimize the damage from pollution. Any such discharge shall be subject to the approval of any Contracting Party in whose jurisdiction it is contemplated the discharge will occur. F. Measures of control 1. The Contracting Parties shall appoint or authorize surveyors for the purpose of implementing this Paragraph. Category A Substances 2. a) If a tank is partially unloaded or unloaded but not cleaned, an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book: b) until that tank is cleaned every subsequent pumping or transfer operation carried out in connection with that tank shall also be entered in the Cargo Record Book. 3. If the tank is to be washed: a) the effluent from the tank washing operation shall be discharged from the ship to a reception facility at least until the concentration of the substance in the discharge, as indicated by analysis of samples of the effluent taken by the surveyor has fallen to the residual concentration specified for that substance in Appendix III to this Annex. When the required residual concentration has been achieved, remaining tank washings shall continue to be discharged to the reception facility until the tank is empty. Appropriate entries of these operations shall be made in the Cargo Record Book and certified by the surveyor; and b) after diluting the residue then remaining in the tank with at least 5 per cent of the tank capacity of water, this mixture may be discharged into the sea in accordance with the provisions of Sub- Paragraph 1 (a), (b), and (c) of Paragraph D of this Regulation. Appropriate entries of these operations shall be made in the Cargo Record Book. 4. Where the Government of the receiving Party is satisfied that it is impracticable to measure the concentration of the substance in the effluent without causing undue delay to the ship, that Party may accept an alternative procedure as being equivalent to Sub-Paragraph 3 (a) of this Paragraph provided that: a) a pre-cleaning procedure for that tank and that substance is approved by the Administration and that Party is satisfied that such procedure will fulfil the requirements of Sub-Paragraph 1 of Paragraph D of this Regulation with respect to the attainment of the prescribed residual concentrations; b) a surveyor duly authorized by that Party shall certify in the Cargo Record Book that: (i) the tank, its pump and piping system have been emptied, and that the quantity of cargo remaining in the tank is at or below the quantity on which the approved pre-cleaning procedure referred to in Sub-Paragraph (ii) of this sub- Paragraph has been based; (ii) pre-cleaning has been carried out in accordance with the pre-cleaning procedure approved by the Administration for that tank and that substance; and (iii) the tank washings resulting from such pre-cleaning have been discharged to a reception facility and the tank is empty; c) the discharge into the sea of any remaining residues shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sub-Paragraph 3 (b) of this Paragraph and an appropriate entry is made in the Cargo Record Book. Category B Substances 5. Subject to such surveillance and approval by the authorized or appointed surveyor as may be deemed necessary by the Contracting Party, the Master of a ship shall, with respect to a Category B substance, ensure compliance with the following: a) if a tank is partially unloaded or unloaded but not cleaned, an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; b) until that tank is cleaned every subsequent pumping or transfer operation carried out in connection with that tank shall also be entered in the Cargo Record; c) if the tank is to be washed, the effluent from the tank washing operation, which shall contain a volume of water not less than 0.5 per cent of the total volume of the tank, shall be discharged from the ship to a reception facility until the tank, its pump and piping system are empty. An appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; d) if the tank is to be further cleaned and emptied at sea, the Master shall: (i) ensure that the approved procedures referred to in Sub- Paragraph 2 (c) of Paragraph D of this Regulation are complied with and that the appropriate entries are made in the Cargo Record Book; and (ii) ensure that any discharge into the sea is made in accordance with the requirements of Sub-Paragraph 2 of Paragraph D of this Regulation and an appropriate entry is made in the Cargo Record Book; e) if after unloading a Category B substance any residues of tank washing are to be retained on board until the ship is outside the Baltic Sea Area, the Master shall so indicate by an appropriate entry in the Cargo Record Book; Category C Substances 6. Subject to such surveillance and approval by the authorized or appointed surveyor as may be deemed necessary by the Contracting Party, the Master of a ship shall with respect to a Category C substance, ensure compliance with the following: a) if a tank is partially unloaded or unloaded but not cleaned, an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; b) if the tank is to be cleaned at sea: (i) the cargo piping system serving that tank shall be drained and an appropriate entry made in the Cargo Record Book; (ii) the quantity of substance remaining in the tank shall not exceed the maximum quantity which may be discharged into the sea for that substance under Sub-Paragraph 3 (c) of Paragraph D of this Regulation. An appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; or (iii) where it is intended to discharge the quantity of substance remaining into the sea the approved procedures shall be complied with, and the necessary dilution of the substance satisfactory for such a discharge shall be achieved. An appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; or (iv) where the tank washings are not discharged into the sea if any internal transfer of tank washings takes place from that tank an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; and (v) any subsequent discharge into the sea of such tank washings shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Sub- Paragraph 3 of Paragraph D of this Regulation; c) if the tank is to be cleaned in port; (i) the tank washings shall be discharged to a reception facility and an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; or (ii) the tank washings shall be retained on board the ship and an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book indicating the location and disposition of the tank washings; d) if after loading a Category C substance within the Baltic Sea Area, any residues or tank washings are to be retained on board until the ship is outside the area, the Master shall so indicate by an appropriate entry in the Cargo Record Book. Category D Substances 7. The Master of a ship shall, with respect to Category D substance, ensure compliance with the following: a) if a tank is partially unloaded or loaded but not cleaned, an appropriate entry shall be made the Cargo Record Book; b) if the tank is to be cleaned at sea: (i) the cargo piping system serving that tank shall be drained and an appropriate entry made in the Cargo Record Book; (ii) where it is intended to discharge the quantity of substance remaining into the sea, the necessary dilution of the substance satisfactory for such a discharge shall be achieved. An appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; (iii) where the tank washings are not discharged into the sea, if any internal transfer of tank washings takes place from that tank an appropriate entry shall be made in the Book; and (iv) any subsequent discharge in tank washings shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Sub-Paragraph 4 of Paragraph D of this Regulation; c) if the tank is to be cleaned in port: (i) the tank washings shall be discharged to a reception facility and an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book; or (ii) the tank washings shall be retained on board the ship and an appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book indicating the location and disposition of the tank washings. Discharge from a Slop Tank 8. Any residues on board in a slop tank, including those from pump room bilges, which contain a Category C substance in excess of the aggregate of the maximum quantities specified in Sub-Paragraph 3 (c) of Paragraph D of this regulation shall be discharged to a reception facility. An appropriate entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book. G. Cargo record book 1. Every ship to which this Regulation applies shall be provided with a Cargo Record Book, whether as part of the ship's official log book or otherwise, in the form specified in Appendix V to this Annex. 2. The Cargo Record Book shall be completed, on a tank-to-tank basis whenever any of the following operations with respect to a noxious liquid substance takes place in the ship: (i) loading of cargo; (ii) unloading of cargo; (iii) transfer of cargo; (iv) transfer of cargo, cargo residues or mixtures containing cargo to a slop tank; (v) cleaning of cargo tanks; (vi) transfer from slop tanks; (vii) ballasting of cargo tanks; (viii) transfer of dirty ballast water; (ix) discharge into the sea in accordance with Paragraph D of this Regulation. 3. In the event of any discharge of the kind referred to in Annex VI of the present Convention and Paragraph E of this Regulation of any noxious liquid substance or mixture containing such substances, whether intentional or accidental, an entry shall be made in the Cargo Record Book stating the circumstances of, and the reason for, the discharge. 4. When a surveyor appointed or authorized by a Contracting Party to supervise any operations under this Regulation has inspected a ship, then that surveyor shall make an appropriate entry in the Cargo Record Book. 5. Each operation referred to in Sub-Paragraph 2 and 3 of this Paragraph shall be fully recorded without delay in the Cargo Record Book so that all the entries in the Book appropriate to that operation are completed. Each entry shall be signed by the officer or officers in charge of the operation concerned and, when the ship is manned, each page shall be signed by the Master of the ship. The entries in the Cargo Record Book shall be in an official language of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, and, except when the ship is engaged in domestic voyages, in English or French. The entries in an official national language or the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly shall prevail in case of a dispute or discrepancy. 6. The Cargo Record Book shall be kept in such a place as to be readily a