PROTOCOL OF 2003 TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR COMPENSATION FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE, 1992

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization has the honour to refer to the Protocol of 2003 to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992, and to state, that accession by the Federal Republic of Germany was effected by deposit of an instrument on 24 November 2004 and ratification by the Kingdom of Spain was effected by deposit of an instrument on 3 December 2004, in accordance with article 19 of the Protocol. With the deposit of the instrument of ratification by Spain, the requirements for the entry into force of the Protocol were fulfilled.

Article 21 provides as follows:
io1 This Protocol shall enter into force three months following the date on which the following requirements are fulfilled:
(a) at least eight States have signed the Protocol without reservation as to
ratification, acceptance or approval, or have deposited instruments of
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary-General;
and
(b) the Secretary-General has received information from the Director of the
1992 Fund that those persons who would be liable to contribute pursuant
to article 10 have received during the preceding calendar year a total
quantity of at least 450 million tons of contributing oil, including the
quantities referred to in article 14, paragraph 1.la
Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of article 21, the Protocol will enter into force on 3 March 2005, i.e. three months following the date on which the requirements for entry into force were met.
The instrument of accession by Germany contained the following declaration:
ieThe Accession takes place in accordance with the European Union Council Decision of 2 March 2004 (2004/246/EC, ‚Council Decision authorizing the Member States to sign, ratify or accede, in the interest of the European Community, to the Protocol of 2003 to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992, and authorizing Austria and Luxembourg, in the interest
of the European Community, to accede to the underlying instruments(tm), Official Journal of the European Union L 78/22; 16 March 2004).ln A list of the eight Contracting States to the Protocol appears overleaf.