International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Document type Multilateral Field of application Global Date Nov 29, 1969 Source IUCN (ID: TRE-000111) Title abbreviation INTERVENTION 1969 Title (French) Convention internationale sur l'intervention en haute mer en cas d'accident entrainant ou pouvant entrainer une pollution par les hydrocarbures Title (Other) Internationales Übereinkommen über Maßnahmen auf Hoher See bei Ölverschmutzungsunfällen Place of adoption Brussels Depository IMO International Maritime Organization Language English, French Entry into force May 6, 1975 Subject Land & soil, Waste & hazardous substances, Sea Keyword High seas Navigation Liability/compensation Transport/storage Marine pollution (ship-based sources) Dispute settlement Resource/damage valuation Oil pollution Geographical area Arctic, North Sea Abstract Objectives: To enable countries to take action on the high seas in cases of a maritime casualty resulting in danger of oil pollution of the sea and coastlines while ensuring that such action does not affect the principle of freedom of the high seas. Summary of provisions Parties may take such measures on the high seas as may be necessary to prevent, mitigate or eliminate grave and imminent danger to their coastline or related interests from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea by oil (art. 1). Before taking action, a coastal State should notify the flag State of the ship, consult independent experts and notify any person whose interests may reasonably be expected to be affected by such action. In cases of extreme urgency measure may be taken at once. In any case the coastal State must endeavour to protect human life and assist persons in distress (art. 3). Such measures are not to go beyond what is reasonably necessary to achieve the end mentioned in article 1, and are to be proportionate to the damage, actual or threatened (art. 5). (Source: IUCN ELC, 08.2005, based on UNEP Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment, 1996) Full text English French Website www.imo.org Country/Territory/Participant See Expanded View Show Map Countries Entry into force Ratification * Simple signature Algeria Feb 19, 2012 Nov 21, 2011 [2] - Angola Jan 2, 2002 Oct 4, 2001 [2] - Argentina Jul 20, 1987 Apr 21, 1987 [2] - Australia Feb 5, 1984 Nov 7, 1983 [1] Dec 17, 1970 Bahamas Oct 20, 1976 Jul 22, 1976 [2] - Bangladesh Feb 4, 1982 Nov 6, 1981 [2] - Barbados Aug 4, 1994 May 6, 1994 [2] - Belgium May 6, 1975 Oct 21, 1971 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Benin Jan 30, 1986 Nov 1, 1985 [2] - Brazil Apr 17, 2008 Jan 18, 2008 [1] Dec 30, 1969 Bulgaria Jan 31, 1984 Nov 2, 1983 [2] - Cameroon Aug 12, 1984 May 14, 1984 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Chile May 29, 1995 Feb 28, 1995 [2] - China May 24, 1990 Feb 23, 1990 [2] Nov 29, 1969 Congo Aug 17, 2014 May 19, 2014 [2] - Croatia Oct 27, 1993 Oct 8, 1991 [4] - Cuba Aug 3, 1976 May 5, 1976 [2] - Côte d'Ivoire Apr 7, 1988 Jan 8, 1988 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Denmark May 6, 1975 Dec 18, 1970 [6] - Djibouti May 30, 1990 Mar 1, 1990 [2] - Dominican Republic May 6, 1975 Feb 5, 1975 [1] Oct 22, 1970 Ecuador Mar 23, 1977 Dec 23, 1976 [2] - Egypt May 4, 1989 Feb 3, 1989 [2] - Equatorial Guinea Jul 23, 1996 Apr 24, 1996 [2] - Estonia Aug 14, 2008 May 16, 2008 [2] - Fiji May 6, 1975 Aug 15, 1972 [2] - Finland Dec 5, 1976 Sep 6, 1976 [1] Dec 30, 1970 France May 6, 1975 May 10, 1972 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Gabon Apr 21, 1982 Jan 21, 1982 [2] - Georgia Nov 23, 1995 Aug 25, 1995 [2] - Germany Aug 5, 1975 May 7, 1975 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Ghana Jul 19, 1978 Apr 20, 1978 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Greece - - Apr 14, 1970 Guatemala - - Nov 29, 1969 Guyana Mar 10, 1998 Dec 10, 1997 [2] - Iceland Oct 15, 1980 Jul 17, 1980 [1] Nov 29, 1969 India Sep 14, 2000 Jun 16, 2000 [2] - Iran, Islamic Republic of Oct 23, 1997 Jul 25, 1997 [2] - Ireland Nov 19, 1980 Aug 21, 1980 [1] Dec 18, 1970 Italy May 28, 1979 Feb 27, 1979 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Jamaica Jun 11, 1991 Mar 13, 1991 [2] - Japan May 6, 1975 Apr 6, 1971 [3] Dec 15, 1970 Korea, Republic of - - Nov 29, 1969 Kuwait Jul 1, 1981 Apr 2, 1981 [2] - Latvia Nov 7, 2001 Aug 9, 2001 [2] - Lebanon Sep 3, 1975 Jun 5, 1975 [2] - Liberia May 6, 1975 Sep 25, 1972 [2] - Madagascar - - Nov 29, 1969 Marshall Islands Jan 14, 1996 Oct 16, 1995 [2] - Mauritania Feb 22, 1998 Nov 24, 1997 [2] - Mauritius Mar 17, 2003 Dec 17, 2002 [2] - Mexico Jul 7, 1976 Apr 8, 1976 [2] - Monaco May 6, 1975 Feb 24, 1975 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Montenegro Jun 3, 2006 Jun 3, 2006 [4] - Morocco May 6, 1975 Apr 11, 1974 [2] - Namibia Jun 10, 2004 Mar 12, 2004 [2] - Netherlands Dec 18, 1975 Sep 19, 1975 [1] Nov 11, 1970 New Zealand May 6, 1975 Mar 26, 1975 [2] - Nicaragua Feb 13, 1995 Nov 15, 1994 [2] - Nigeria May 24, 2004 Feb 24, 2004 [2] - Norway May 6, 1975 Jul 12, 1972 [2] - Oman Apr 24, 1985 Jan 24, 1985 [2] - Pakistan Apr 13, 1995 Jan 13, 1995 [2] - Panama Apr 6, 1976 Jan 7, 1976 [1] Dec 1, 1970 Papua New Guinea Jun 10, 1980 Mar 12, 1980 [2] - Poland Aug 30, 1976 Jun 1, 1976 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Portugal May 15, 1980 Feb 15, 1980 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Qatar Aug 31, 1988 Jun 2, 1988 [2] - Romania - - Dec 30, 1970 Russian Federation May 6, 1975 Dec 30, 1974 [2] - Saint Kitts and Nevis Jan 5, 2005 Oct 7, 2004 [2] - Saint Lucia Aug 18, 2004 May 20, 2004 [2] - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Aug 10, 1999 May 12, 1999 [2] - Senegal May 6, 1975 Mar 27, 1972 [2] - Serbia Jun 3, 2006 Jun 3, 2006 [4] - Slovenia Jun 25, 1991 Jun 25, 1991 [4] - South Africa Sep 29, 1986 Jul 1, 1986 [2] - Spain May 6, 1975 Nov 8, 1973 [1] Oct 7, 1970 Sri Lanka Jul 11, 1983 Apr 12, 1983 [2] - Suriname Nov 25, 1975 Nov 25, 1975 [4] - Sweden May 6, 1975 Feb 8, 1973 [3] Dec 7, 1970 Switzerland Mar 14, 1988 Dec 15, 1987 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Syrian Arab Republic May 6, 1975 Feb 6, 1975 [2] - Tanzania, Un. Rep. of Aug 14, 2006 May 16, 2006 [2] - Togo Jan 8, 2017 Oct 10, 2016 [2] - Tonga May 1, 1996 Feb 1, 1996 [2] - Trinidad and Tobago Jun 4, 2000 Mar 6, 2000 [2] - Tunisia Aug 2, 1976 May 4, 1976 [2] - Ukraine Dec 17, 1993 Dec 17, 1993 [4] - United Arab Emirates Mar 14, 1984 Dec 15, 1983 [2] - United Kingdom May 6, 1975 Jan 12, 1971 [1] Nov 29, 1969 United States of America May 6, 1975 Feb 21, 1974 [1] Nov 29, 1969 Vanuatu Dec 13, 1992 Sep 14, 1992 [2] - Yemen Jun 4, 1979 Mar 6, 1979 [2] - * [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature reset zoom out zoom in References - Treaties Enables Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances other than Oil Treaty | Multilateral | London | Nov 2, 1973 Keyword: High seas, Navigation, Hazardous substances, Liability/compensation, Transport/storage, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Dispute settlement Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000116) Cites Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances other than Oil Treaty | Multilateral | London | Nov 2, 1973 Keyword: High seas, Navigation, Hazardous substances, Liability/compensation, Transport/storage, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Dispute settlement Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000116) Cited by Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution, Preparedness and Response in the Arctic Treaty | Multilateral | Kiruna | May 15, 2013 Keyword: Oil pollution, Marine protected areas, Marine pollution (dumping at sea), Marine pollution (land-based sources), Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Marine area, Polluter pays principle, Marine pollution, Oil, Indigenous peoples Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160032) Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks Treaty | Multilateral | Nairobi | May 18, 2007 Keyword: Oil pollution, High seas, Wild fauna, Marine area, Marine fisheries, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Wild flora, Hazardous substances, Marine pollution, Navigation Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160031) Other references Literature 5 records related to this treaty. 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