Amendments to MARPOL 73/78 Annex II were adopted as noted in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0608 issued on 12 November 2004. Further, amendments to the IBC Code were adopted as described in Technical Information No.TEC-0622 dated 10 March 2005. The revised Annex II and IBC Code will enter into force on 1 January 2007, and shall apply to all ships carrying dangerous chemicals or noxious liquid substances in bulk regardless of date of constriction. All applicable ships shall comply with the requirements by 1 January 2007.

1. A summary of revised MARPOL 73/38 Annex II and IBC Code
Criteria of pollution category and ship type were reviewed due to alternations in the Hazard Profile of GESAMP (Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). A draft of an entirely revised MARPOL 73/78 Annex II was then approved at MEPC 49 in July 2003, and was adopted at MEPC52 in October 2004. In addition, although a revised text of the IBC Code was also adopted at MEPC52, the amended IBC Code was finally adopted after deliberation of safety matters at MSC 79 in December 2004, since the Code includes not only environmental matters but also safety matters, as well. The pollution categories and ship types of each noxious liquid substance were re-classified in new Chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC Code according to new Hazard criteria based on these revisions. An overview of the major revised parts is summarized briefly below. Please refer to Attachment 1 for details.
(1) Main revisions to MARPOL 73/38 Annex II:
(i) Re-classification of pollution categories;
(ii) Revision of residual quantity of stripping systems;
(iii) Redefinition of high-viscosity substances;
(iv) Revision of prewash procedures within and outside of special sea areas;
(v) Abolition of oil-like substances;
(vi) Exemption of requirements for the carriage of vegetable oils;
(vii) The addition of special requirements for the carriage of vegetable oils in deep tanks or independent tanks of general cargo carriers (general dry cargo ships).
(2) Main revisions to the IBC Code:
(i) Upgrading of ship type requirements;
(ii) Modification of material requirements for cargo tank and piping;
(iii) Revision of Chapter 10 "Electrical installations";
(iv) Abolition of Chapter 16A, "Additional measures for the protection of the marine environment".
(To be continued)