[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 20 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Pages 609-610]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Protocol of 1997 To Amend the 
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 
1973, as Modified by the Protocol of 1978

May 15, 2003

To the Senate of the United States:

    I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to its 
ratification, the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International Convention 
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as Modified by the 
Protocol of 1978 thereto (hereinafter the ``Protocol of 1997''). The 
Protocol of 1997, which would add Annex VI, Regulations for the 
Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, to the International Convention 
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as Modified by the 
Protocol of 1978 (hereinafter the ``MARPOL Convention''), was signed by 
the United States on December 22, 1998. I also enclose, for the 
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State and its 
attached analysis of the Protocol of 1997, as well as Resolution 2 of 
the 1997 MARPOL Conference with its annexed Technical Code on Control of 
Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines.
    The MARPOL Convention is the global agreement to control pollution 
from ships. MARPOL Annex VI regulates the emission into the atmosphere 
of specified pollutants from ships. It complements the other annexes to 
the MARPOL Convention, which relate to the transport of oil (Annex I), 
harmful substances carried in bulk (Annex II), harmful substances in 
packaged form (Annex III), ship-generated sewage (Annex IV) and garbage 
(Annex V). The United States is a party to all of these annexes with the 
exception of Annex IV.
    MARPOL Annex VI regulates the prevention of air pollution from ships 
by limiting

[[Page 610]]

the discharge of nitrogen oxides from large marine diesel engines, 
governing the sulfur content of marine diesel fuel, prohibiting the 
emission of ozone-depleting substances, regulating the emission of 
volatile organic compounds during the transfer of cargoes between 
tankers and terminals, setting standards for shipboard incinerators and 
fuel oil quality, and establishing requirements for platforms and 
drilling rigs at sea.
    MARPOL Annex VI is an important step toward controlling and 
preventing emissions of harmful air pollutants from ships. U.S. 
ratification of the Protocol of 1997 will demonstrate U.S. commitment to 
an international solution and should hasten the entry into force of the 
Protocol of 1997. Ratification will also enhance our ability to work 
within the treaty framework to obtain subsequent amendments that will 
require further reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides that are now 
achievable through the use of modern control technologies which the 
United States strongly supports.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Protocol of 1997 and give its advice and consent to ratification, 
subject to the declarations and understanding set out in the 
accompanying report of the Secretary of State.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 15, 2003.

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