Treaty

Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973

PartiesParties with a link have a reservation.

Party Signature RatificationS=Signature without reservation or requirement of ratification R=Ratification, Acceptance, Approval or Notification A=Accession Su=Succession NK=Not Known Entry into force Renunciation Termination
Algeria 21-11-2011 (A) 19-02-2012
Australia 07-11-1983 (A) 05-02-1984
Bahamas 05-03-1981 (A) 30-03-1983
Barbados 06-05-1994 (A) 04-08-1994
Belgium 09-09-1982 (A) 30-03-1983
Brazil 18-01-2008 (A) 17-04-2008
Bulgaria 21-11-2006 (A) 19-02-2007
Chile 28-02-1995 (A) 29-05-1995
China 23-02-1990 (A) 24-05-1990
Croatia 27-07-1992 (Su) 08-10-1991
Denmark 15-01-1974 09-05-1983 (R) 07-08-1983
Egypt 03-02-1989 (A) 04-05-1989
Estonia 16-05-2008 (A) 14-08-2008
Finland 04-08-1986 (A) 02-11-1986
France 31-12-1985 (A) 31-03-1986
Georgia 25-08-1995 (A) 23-11-1995
Germany 04-03-1974 21-08-1985 (R) 19-11-1985
Iran 25-07-1997 (A) 23-10-1997
Iraq 05-08-2024 (A) 03-11-2024
Ireland 06-01-1995 (A) 06-04-1995
Italy 03-07-1974 01-10-1982 (R) 30-03-1983
Jamaica 13-03-1991 (A) 11-06-1991
Latvia 09-08-2001 (A) 07-11-2001
Liberia 17-02-1981 (A) 30-03-1983
Marshall Islands 16-10-1995 (A) 14-01-1996
Mauritania 24-11-1997 (A) 22-02-1998
Mauritius 06-11-2003 (A) 04-02-2004
Mexico 11-04-1980 (A) 30-03-1983
Monaco 31-03-2005 (A) 29-06-2005
Montenegro 03-06-2006 (Su) 03-06-2006
Morocco 30-01-2001 (A) 30-04-2001
Namibia 12-03-2004 (A) 10-06-2004
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the 30-12-1974 10-09-1980 (R) 30-03-1983
New Zealand 23-12-1974 04-04-2014 (R) 03-07-2014
Nicaragua 15-11-1994 (A) 13-02-1995
Nigeria 19-11-2024 (A) 17-02-2025
Norway 15-07-1980 (A) 30-03-1983
Oman 24-01-1985 (A) 24-04-1985
Pakistan 13-01-1995 (A) 13-04-1995
Poland 02-10-1974 10-07-1981 (R) 30-03-1983
Portugal 08-07-1987 (A) 06-10-1987
Republic of the Congo 19-05-2014 (A) 17-08-2014
Russian Federation 30-12-1974 30-12-1982 (R) 30-03-1983
Saint Lucia 20-05-2004 (A) 18-08-2004
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12-05-1999 (A) 10-08-1999
San Marino 19-04-2021 (A) 18-07-2021
Serbia 12-03-2001 (Su) 27-04-1992
Slovenia 12-11-1992 (Su) 25-06-1991
Solomon Islands 30-09-2024 (A) 29-12-2024
South Africa 25-09-1997 (A) 24-12-1997
Spain 14-03-1994 (A) 12-06-1994
Sweden 31-05-1974 28-06-1976 (R) 30-03-1983
Switzerland 15-12-1987 (A) 14-03-1988
Tanzania 23-11-2006 (A) 21-02-2007
Togo 10-10-2016 (A) 08-01-2017
Tonga 01-02-1996 (A) 01-05-1996
Tunisia 04-05-1976 (A) 30-03-1983
United Kingdom 19-12-1974 05-11-1979 (R) 30-03-1983
United States of America 07-03-1974 07-09-1978 (R) 30-03-1983
Vanuatu 14-09-1992 (A) 13-12-1992
Yemen 06-03-1979 (A) 30-03-1983
Yugoslavia (< 25-06-1991) 31-10-1980 (A) 30-03-1983

Extensions

China

Extended to Entry into force Termination
Hong Kong SAR 01-07-1997
Macao SAR 24-06-2005

United Kingdom

Extended to Entry into force Termination
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus) 30-03-1983
Anguilla 30-03-1983
Bermuda 30-03-1983
British Antarctic Territory 30-03-1983
British Virgin Islands 30-03-1983
Cayman Islands 30-03-1983
Ducie and Oeno Islands 30-03-1983
Falkland Islands 30-03-1983
Henderson Island 30-03-1983
Hong Kong (< 01-07-1997) 30-03-1983 01-07-1997
Man, Isle of 27-06-1995
Montserrat 30-03-1983
Pitcairn Islands 30-03-1983
Saint-Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 30-03-1983
Turks and Caicos Islands 30-03-1983

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party Reservations / Declarations Objections
Australia Yes No
France Yes No
New Zealand Yes No
United Kingdom Yes No

Australia

07-11-1983

Australia recalls the statement made by the Australian Delegation to the International Conference on Marine Pollution 1973 which was in the following terms:
'...Australia believes that no coastal State would refrain from taking whatever action was necessary to protect areas under its jurisdiction from serious environmental damage and it believes that this right of a coastal State to intervene on the high seas to protect areas under its jurisdiction is recognized under customary international law.'
In becoming a party to the Protocol, Australia declares that it believes that it may still take action to protect areas and resources under its jurisdiction which is permitted under customary international law and which is consistent with the Protocol.

France

31-12-1985

According to article 1 of the Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances Other than Oil, done at London on 2 Novermber 1973, States Parties may take measures on the high seas following upon a maritime casualty only in the case of grave and imminent danger of pollution or threat of pollution which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences.
On the basis of the definition of type A packages, the French Government considers that radioactive substances that may be stored or carried as substances in type A packages cannot give rise to such a danger.
Accordingly the French Government does not accept the application of the provisions of the Protocol to such packages.

New Zealand

04-04-2014

[...] consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory.

United Kingdom

05-11-1979

[...] reserving the right to extend the Protocol at a later date to any territory for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible and to which the International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties has been extended in accordance with the provisions of article XIII, paragraph 1, thereof.

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