IMSML Website Article 17/2025: Resolution MEPC.381(80) - Establishment of the Date on Which Regulations 15.3, 15.5, and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I (in respect of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas) Shall Take Effect

Today's article is a short note on what happened at its 80th Session, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) when it passed Resolution MEPC.381(80)  to protect the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as Special Areas under MARPOL Annex I. Under Regulation 38.8.1,, the designation took effect on 1 January 2025. It is incorporated in Malaysian Maritime Law via Malaysian Shipping Notice (MSN) 14/2023which was published  on 20 December 2023.

What is the scope of the Special Area? The Red Sea Area cover parties such as Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the Sudan coastlines which border the Red Sea. For the Gulf of Aden Special Area, it covers the coastline of Djibouti and Somalia, see Annex 21, p 1.

Are there mandatory obligations in this area? No. The designation encourages Member Governments, industry groups and other stakeholders to comply immediately on a voluntary basis, see Annex 21, p 1.

Thank you for reading IMSML Website Article 17/2024

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Website Article 18/2025: Resolution MEPC.382(80) - Establishment of the Date on Which Regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V, In Respect of The Red Sea Special Area, Shall Take Effect

Signing-off for today,

Dr Irwin Ooi Ui Joo, LL.B(Hons.)(Glamorgan); LL.M (Cardiff); Ph.D (Cardiff); CMILT

Professor of Maritime and Transport Law

Head of the Centre for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Tuesday,  29 April 2025

Note that I am the corresponding author for the IMSML Website Articles. My official email address is: uijoo310@uitm.edu.my