With the deposit of the Instrument of Accession on 1 May 2005 at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London, Singapore became party to Annex IV of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78). Of greater significance is that Singapore has acceded to all six Annexes of MARPOL , an achievement shared by few countries in the world.

MARPOL 73/78 is an IMO Convention dealing with pollution from ships. It covers all forms of marine pollution except the disposal of land-based waste into the sea by dumping. Annex IV which will enter into force for Singapore on 1 Aug 05, contains regulations relating to pollution from ship sewage. It includes areas such as surveys and certification of equipment, as well as the criteria for discharge of sewage.

The provisions of MARPOL Annex IV apply to ships of 400 gross tons (GT) and above and which are certified to carry more than 15 persons. Such ships are required to be equipped with a sewage holding tank, comminuting (to break up the sewage into small pieces) and disinfecting system, or treatment plant. Ships are permitted to discharge sewage into the sea under conditions specified in the Annex.

To date, only 18 countries have completed their accessions to all the MARPOL Annexes, which represent about 11 per cent of the 164 IMO member States. Singapore's accomplishment stems from its proactive approach on preventing marine pollution, whereby local regulations have been aligned with international standards for all aspects of such pollution.

The other five MARPOL Annexes which Singapore had already acceded to, deal with various forms of marine pollution: Annex I (pollution by oil), Annex II (pollution by noxious liquid substances carried in bulk), Annex III (pollution by harmful substances carried in packaged form), Annex V (pollution by garbage) and Annex VI (air pollution from ships).

As part of the most recent accession's preparations, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) had consulted the local shipping community. In the past two years, the MPA also issued Shipping Circulars Nos. 18 of 2003 and 21 of 2004 to shipowners to inform them of the requirements of Annex IV. The Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Sewage) Regulations 2005 which give effect to Annex IV were published in the Government E-Gazette on 18 Mar 05.

Singapore's accession to MARPOL Annex IV affirms the Republic's commitment to the IMO's mission of safeguarding the marine environment. It also enhances our status as a responsible flag State, committed to facilitating the clearance of Singapore ships in the ports of other member parties.

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