Prohibition of the discharge of waste oil into the sea

Recommendation 68 (1954)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(see Doc. 310, Report of the Committee on Economie Questions). This Recommandation was adopted by the Assembly at its 29th Sitting, on 24th September, 1964

The Assembly,

Calling attention to the problem created in post-war years by

a the transport of crude oil to Europe with the resulting discharge into the sea of waste oil by tankers ;

b the increasing use of oil fuel by cargo ships ;

Noting with alarm that the discharge of waste oil overboard is resulting in the destruction of animal life and fisheries and the fouling of the coastline and beaches of the maritime nations of the Council of Europe ;

Having acquainted itself with the work of the International Conference on Pollution of the Sea by Oil, held in London from 26th April to 12th May, 1954 ; and

Approving the aims of the eight Resolutions adopted by that Conference, and the Final Act issued at the conclusion of its proceedings ;

Adopting the conclusions of the Conference as stated in its Resolution No. 1 :

"The only entirely effective method known of preventing oil pollution is the complete avoidance of the discharge of persistent oils into the sea, and, as stated above, measures are possible which would enable this to be substantially achieved.

While the Conference has come to the conclusion that a date cannot be fixed at the present time by which there should be complete avoidance of the discharge of persistent oils into the sea, they consider that complete avoidance of the discharge of these persistent oils should, with certain necessary exceptions, be secured from the earliest practicable date and strongly urge all Governments and other bodies concerned to use their best endeavours to create the conditions upon which the observance of such a prohibition necessarily depends by securing the provision of adequate facilities in their main ports and the necessary arrangements in ships. The Conference is of opinion that a further conference to review the matter in the light of experience of the working of the arrangements recommended by the London Conference should be held within three years",

1. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should urge those Governments which have not yet signed the International Convention for the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil, signed in London on 12th May, 1954, or have only done so subject to ratification or acceptance, to effect such acceptance and, pending the coming into operation of the Convention, to take certain immediate steps set forth in Resolution No. 6 as appended to the Final Act of the Conference ;

2. Draws the attention of Representatives to the desirability of informing their respective Parliaments of the very great importance which certain Member States of the Council of Europe attach to this question.