Protection of the Wider Caribbean Marine Environment

The Regional Activity Center / Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center for the Wider Caribbean Region (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe), together with the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Program through its Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), and the M/V FREEWINDS will be conducting seminars for policy makers, environmental officials, maritime administrators and waste management authorities on the ratification and implementation of Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).  The aim of MARPOL Annex V is to protect the marine environment from the dumping of garbage from ships.  The pollution prevention seminars will be conducted on board the M/V FREEWINDS during its port visits to the following five islands:  Saint Lucia on November 12-13; Barbados on November 14-15; Dominica on November 16-17; Saint Kitts on November 19-20; and Antigua on November 21-22. 

In addition to inviting officials from each of the five islands, all other islands and Central and South American countries in the Wider Caribbean have been invited to participate to ensure the benefit of all countries affected by this initiative.  The seminars will specifically bring to attention the issue of waste reception facilities with the goal of placing the “Special Area” provisions of MARPOL Annex V into effect.  The seminars will also provide linkages with the obligations of the Convention on the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) and its Protocol concerning pollution from land based sources and activities. 

Special Areas” are particular bodies of water which, because of their oceanographic characteristics and ecological significance, require protective measures more strict than other areas of the ocean.Within “Special Areas” that are in effect internationally, the only authorized garbage discharge from vessels is food waste except under emergency circumstances.

For further information, please contact RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe at +5999-8684612.