Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam

Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Protokola o sodelovanju pri preprečevanju onesnaževanja z ladij in ob izrednih dogodkih v boju proti onesnaževanju Sredozemskega morja (MPPOL), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 19. decembra 2003.

Ratificira se Protokol o sodelovanju pri preprečevanju onesnaževanja z ladij in ob izrednih dogodkih v boju proti onesnaževanju Sredozemskega morja, sestavljen 25. januarja 2002 v Valletti.

Besedilo protokola se v izvirniku v angleškem jeziku in v prevodu v slovenskem jeziku glasi:

The Contracting Parties to the present Protocol,
Being Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, adopted at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and amended on 10 June 1995,
Desirous of implementing Articles 6 and 9 of the said Convention,
Recognizing that grave pollution of the sea by oil and hazardous and noxious substances or a threat thereof in the Mediterranean Sea Area involves a danger for the coastal States and the marine environment,
Considering that the cooperation of all the coastal States of the Mediterranean Sea is called for to prevent pollution from ships and to respond to pollution incidents, irrespective of their origin,
Acknowledging the role of the International Maritime Organization and the importance of cooperating within the framework of this Organization, in particular in promoting the adoption and the development of international rules and standards to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from ships,
Emphasizing the efforts made by the Mediterranean coastal States for the implementation of these international rules and standards,
Acknowledging also the contribution of the European Community to the implementation of international standards as regards maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships,
Recognizing also the importance of cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea Area in promoting the effective implementation of international regulations to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from ships,
Recognizing further the importance of prompt and effective action at the national, subregional and regional levels in taking emergency measures to deal with pollution of the marine environment or a threat thereof,
Applying the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle and the method of environmental impact assessment, and utilizing the best available techniques and the best environmental practices, as provided for in Article 4 of the Convention,
Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982, which is in force and to which many Mediterranean coastal States and the European Community are Parties,
Taking into account the international conventions dealing in particular with maritime safety, the prevention of pollution from ships, preparedness for and response to pollution incidents, and liability and compensation for pollution damage, Wishing to further develop mutual assistance and cooperation in preventing and combating pollution,

For the purpose of this Protocol:
(a) “Convention” means the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, adopted at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and amended on 10 June 1995;
(b) “Pollution incident” means an occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin, which results or may result in a discharge of oil and/or hazardous and noxious substances and which poses or may pose a threat to the marine environment, or to the coastline or related interests of one or more States, and which requires emergency action or other immediate response;
(c) “Hazardous and noxious substances” means any substance other than oil which, if introduced into the marine environment, is likely to create hazards to human health, to harm living resources and marine life, to damage amenities or to interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea;
(d) “Related interests” means the interests of a coastal State directly affected or threatened and concerning, among others:
(i) maritime activities in coastal areas, in ports or estuaries, including fishing activities;
(ii) the historical and tourist appeal of the area in question, including water sports and recreation;
(iii) the health of the coastal population;
(iv) the cultural, aesthetic, scientific and educational value of the area;
(v) the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of marine and coastal biological resources;
(e) “International regulations” means regulations aimed at preventing, reducing and controlling pollution of the marine environment from ships as adopted, at the global level and in conformity with international law, under the aegis of United Nations specialized agencies, and in particular of the International Maritime Organization;
(f) “Regional Centre” means the “Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea” (REMPEC), established by Resolution 7 adopted by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the Coastal States of the Mediterranean Region on the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea at Barcelona on 9 February 1976, which is administered by the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, and the objectives and functions of which are defined by the Contracting Parties to the Convention.

The area to which the Protocol applies shall be the Mediterranean Sea Area as defined in Article 1 of the Convention.

1. The Parties shall cooperate:
(a) to implement international regulations to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from ships; and
(b) to take all necessary measures in cases of pollution incidents.
2. In cooperating, the Parties should take into account as appropriate the participation of local authorities, non-governmental organizations and socio- economic actors.
3. Each Party shall apply this Protocol without prejudice to the sovereignty or the jurisdiction of other Parties or other States. Any measures taken by a Party to apply this Protocol shall be in accordance with international law.

1. The Parties shall endeavour to maintain and promote, either individually or through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, contingency plans and other means of preventing and combating pollution incidents. These means shall include, in particular, equipment, ships, aircraft and personnel prepared for operations in cases of emergency, the enactment, as appropriate, of relevant legislation, the development or strengthening of the capability to respond to a pollution incident and the designation of a national authority or authorities responsible for the implementation of this Protocol.
2. The Parties shall also take measures in conformity with international law to prevent the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Area from ships in order to ensure the effective implementation in that Area of the relevant international conventions in their capacity as flag State, port State and coastal State, and their applicable legislation. They shall develop their national capacity as regards the implementation of those international conventions and may cooperate for their effective implementation through bilateral or multilateral agreements.
3. The Parties shall inform the Regional Centre every two years of the measures taken for the implementation of this Article. The Regional Centre shall present a report to the Parties on the basis of the information received.

The Parties shall develop and apply, either individually or through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, monitoring activities covering the Mediterranean Sea Area in order to prevent, detect and combat pollution, and to ensure compliance with the applicable international regulations.

In case of release or loss overboard of hazardous and noxious substances in packaged form, including those in freight containers, portable tanks, road and rail vehicles and shipborne barges, the Parties shall cooperate as far as practicable in the salvage of these packages and the recovery of such substances so as to prevent or reduce the danger to the marine and coastal environment.

1. Each Party undertakes to disseminate to the other Parties information concerning:
(a) the competent national organization or authorities responsible for combating pollution of the sea by oil and hazardous and noxious substances;
(b) the competent national authorities responsible for receiving reports of pollution of the sea by oil and hazardous and noxious substances and for dealing with matters concerning measures of assistance between Parties;
(c) the national authorities entitled to act on behalf of the State in regard to measures of mutual assistance and cooperation between Parties;
(d) the national organization or authorities responsible for the implementation of paragraph 2 of Article 4, in particular those responsible for the implementation of the international conventions concerned and other relevant applicable regulations, those responsible for port reception facilities and those responsible for the monitoring of discharges which are illegal under MARPOL 73/78;
(e) its regulations and other matters which have a direct bearing on preparedness for and response to pollution of the sea by oil and hazardous and noxious substances;
(f) new ways in which pollution of the sea by oil and hazardous and noxious substances may be avoided, new measures for combating pollution, new developments in the technology of conducting monitoring and the development of research programmes.
2. The Parties which have agreed to exchange information directly shall communicate such information to the Regional Centre. The latter shall communicate this information to the other Parties and, on a basis of reciprocity, to coastal States of the Mediterranean Sea Area which are not Parties to this Protocol.
3. Parties concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements within the framework of this Protocol shall inform the Regional Centre of such agreements, which shall communicate them to the other Parties.

The Parties undertake to coordinate the utilization of the means of communication at their disposal in order to ensure, with the necessary speed and reliability, the reception, transmission and dissemination of all reports and urgent information concerning pollution incidents. The Regional Centre shall have the necessary means of communication to enable it to participate in this coordinated effort and, in particular, to fulfil the functions assigned to it by paragraph 2 of Article 12.

1. Each Party shall issue instructions to masters or other persons having charge of ships flying its flag and to the pilots of aircraft registered in its territory to report by the most rapid and adequate channels in the circumstances, following reporting procedures to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the relevant international agreements, to the nearest coastal State and to this Party:
(a) all incidents which result or may result in a discharge of oil or hazardous and noxious substances;
(b) the presence, characteristics and extent of spillages of oil or hazardous and noxious substances, including hazardous and noxious substances in packaged form, observed at sea which pose or are likely to pose a threat to the marine environment or to the coast or related interests of one or more of the Parties.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 20 of the Protocol, each Party shall take appropriate measures with a view to ensuring that the master of every ship sailing in its territorial waters complies with the obligations under (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 and may request assistance from the Regional Centre in this respect. It shall inform the International Maritime Organization of the measures taken.
3. Each Party shall also issue instructions to persons having charge of sea ports or handling facilities under its jurisdiction to report to it, in accordance with applicable laws, all incidents which result or may result in a discharge of oil or hazardous and noxious substances.
4. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil, each Party shall issue instructions to persons having charge of offshore units under its jurisdiction to report to it by the most rapid and adequate channels in the circumstances, following reporting procedures it has prescribed, all incidents which result or may result in a discharge of oil or hazardous and noxious substances.
5. In paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of this Article, the term “incident” means an incident meeting the conditions described therein, whether or not it is a pollution incident.
6. The information collected in accordance with paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shall be communicated to the Regional Centre in the case of a pollution incident.
7. The information collected in accordance with paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shall be immediately communicated to the other Parties likely to be affected by a pollution incident:
(a) by the Party which has received the information, preferably directly or through the Regional Centre; or
(b) by the Regional Centre.
In case of direct communication between Parties, these shall inform the Regional Centre of the measures taken, and the Centre shall communicate them to the other Parties.
8. The Parties shall use a mutually agreed standard form proposed by the Regional Centre for the reporting of pollution incidents as required under paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Article.
9. In consequence of the application of the provisions of paragraph 7, the Parties are not bound by the obligation laid down in Article 9, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

1. Any Party faced with a pollution incident shall:
(a) make the necessary assessments of the nature, extent and possible consequences of the pollution incident or, as the case may be, the type and approximate quantity of oil or hazardous and noxious substances and the direction and speed of drift of the spillage;
(b) take every practicable measure to prevent, reduce and, to the fullest possible extent, eliminate the effects of the pollution incident;
(c) immediately inform all Parties likely to be affected by the pollution incident of these assessments and of any action which it has taken or intends to take, and simultaneously provide the same information to the Regional Centre, which shall communicate it to all other Parties;
(d) continue to observe the situation for as long as possible and report thereon in accordance with Article 9.
2. Where action is taken to combat pollution originating from a ship, all possible measures shall be taken to safeguard:
(a) human lives;
(b) the ship itself; in doing so, damage to the environment in general shall be prevented or minimized.
Any Party which takes such action shall inform the International Maritime Organization either directly or through the Regional Centre.

1. Each Party shall take the necessary steps to ensure that ships flying its flag have on board a pollution emergency plan as required by, and in accordance with, the relevant international regulations.
2. Each Party shall require masters of ships flying its flag, in case of a pollution incident, to follow the procedures described in the shipboard emergency plan and in particular to provide the proper authorities, at their request, with such detailed information about the ship and its cargo as is relevant to actions taken in pursuance of Article 9, and to cooperate with these authorities.
3. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 20 of the Protocol, each Party shall take appropriate measures with a view to ensuring that the master of every ship sailing in its territorial waters complies with the obligation under paragraph 2 and may request assistance from the Regional Centre in this respect. It shall inform the International Maritime Organization of the measures taken.
4. Each Party shall require that authorities or operators in charge of sea ports and handling facilities under its jurisdiction as it deems appropriate have pollution emergency plans or similar arrangements that are coordinated with the national system established in accordance with Article 4 and approved in accordance with procedures established by the competent national authority.
5. Each Party shall require operators in charge of offshore installations under its jurisdiction to have a contingency plan to combat any pollution incident, which is coordinated with the national system established in accordance with Article 4 and in accordance with the procedures established by the competent national authority.

1. Any Party requiring assistance to deal with a pollution incident may call for assistance from other Parties, either directly or through the Regional Centre, starting with the Parties which appear likely to be affected by the pollution. This assistance may comprise, in particular, expert advice and the supply to or placing at the disposal of the Party concerned of the required specialized personnel, products, equipment and nautical facilities. Parties so requested shall use their best endeavours to render this assistance.
2. Where the Parties engaged in an operation to combat pollution cannot agree on the organization of the operation, the Regional Centre may, with the approval of all the Parties involved, coordinate the activity of the facilities put into operation by these Parties.
3. In accordance with applicable international agreements, each Party shall take the necessary legal and administrative measures to facilitate:
(a) the arrival and utilization in and departure from its territory of ships, aircraft and other modes of transport engaged in responding to a pollution incident or transporting personnel, cargoes, materials and equipment required to deal with such an incident; and
(b) the expeditious movement into, through and out of its territory of the personnel, cargoes, materials and equipment referred to in subparagraph (a).

1. Unless an agreement concerning the financial arrangements governing actions of Parties to deal with pollution incidents has been concluded on a bilateral or multilateral basis prior to the pollution incident, Parties shall bear the costs of their respective action in dealing with pollution in accordance with paragraph 2.
2. (a) If the action was taken by one Party at the express request of another Party, the requesting Party shall reimburse to the assisting Party the costs of its action. If the request is cancelled, the requesting Party shall bear the costs already incurred or committed by the assisting Party;
(b) if the action was taken by a Party on its own initiative, that Party shall bear the cost of its action;
(c) the principles laid down in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall apply unless the Parties concerned otherwise agree in any individual case.
3. Unless otherwise agreed, the costs of the action taken by a Party at the request of another Party shall be fairly calculated according to the law and current practice of the assisting Party concerning the reimbursement of such costs.
4. The Party requesting assistance and the assisting Party shall, where appropriate, cooperate in concluding any action in response to a compensation claim. To that end, they shall give due consideration to existing legal regimes. Where the action thus concluded does not permit full compensation for expenses incurred in the assistance operation, the Party requesting assistance may ask the assisting Party to waive reimbursement of the expenses exceeding the sums compensated or to reduce the costs which have been calculated in accordance with paragraph 3. It may also request a postponement of the reimbursement of such costs. In considering such a request, assisting Parties shall give due consideration to the needs of developing countries.
5. The provisions of this Article shall not be interpreted as in any way prejudicing the rights of Parties to recover from third parties the costs of actions taken to deal with pollution incidents under other applicable provisions and rules of national and international law applicable to one or to the other Party involved in the assistance.

1. The Parties shall individually, bilaterally or multilaterally take all necessary steps to ensure that reception facilities meeting the needs of ships are available in their ports and terminals. They shall ensure that these facilities are used efficiently without causing undue delay to ships.
The Parties are invited to explore ways and means to charge reasonable costs for the use of these facilities.
2. The Parties shall also ensure the provision of adequate reception facilities for pleasure craft.
3. The Parties shall take all the necessary steps to ensure that reception facilities operate efficiently to limit any impact of their discharges to the marine environment.
4. The Parties shall take the necessary steps to provide ships using their ports with updated information relevant to the obligations arising from MARPOL 73/78 and from their legislation applicable in this field.

In conformity with generally accepted international rules and standards and the global mandate of the International Maritime Organization, the Parties shall individually, bilaterally or multilaterally take the necessary steps to assess the environmental risks of the recognized routes used in maritime traffic and shall take the appropriate measures aimed at reducing the risks of accidents or the environmental consequences thereof.

The Parties shall define national, subregional or regional strategies concerning reception in places of refuge, including ports, of ships in distress presenting a threat to the marine environment. They shall cooperate to this end and inform the Regional Centre of the measures they have adopted.

The Parties may negotiate, develop and maintain appropriate bilateral or multilateral subregional agreements in order to facilitate the implementation of this Protocol, or part of it. Upon request of the interested Parties, the Regional Centre shall assist them, within the framework of its functions, in the process of developing and implementing these subregional agreements.

1. Ordinary meetings of the Parties to this Protocol shall be held in conjunction with ordinary meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention, held pursuant to Article 18 of the Convention. The Parties to this Protocol may also hold extraordinary meetings as provided in Article 18 of the Convention.
2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Parties to this Protocol, in particular:
(a) to examine and discuss reports from the Regional Centre on the implementation of this Protocol, and particularly of its Articles 4, 7 and 16;
(b) to formulate and adopt strategies, action plans and programmes for the implementation of this Protocol;
(c) to keep under review and consider the efficacy of these strategies, action plans and programmes, and the need to adopt any new strategies, action plans and programmes and to develop measures to that effect;
(d) to discharge such other functions as may be appropriate for the implementation of this Protocol.

1. The provisions of the Convention relating to any protocol shall apply with respect to the present Protocol.
2. The rules of procedure and the financial rules adopted pursuant to Article 24 of the Convention shall apply with respect to this Protocol, unless the Parties agree otherwise.

In implementing the provisions of this Protocol, the right of Parties to adopt relevant stricter domestic measures or other measures in conformity with international law, in the matters covered by this Protocol, shall not be affected.

The Parties shall, where appropriate, invite States that are not Parties to the Protocol and international organizations to cooperate in the implementation of the Protocol.

This Protocol shall be open for signature at Valletta, Malta, on 25 January 2002 and in Madrid from 26 January 2002 to 25 January 2003 by any Contracting Party to the Convention.

This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. The instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of Spain, which will assume the functions of Depositary.

As from 26 January 2003, this Protocol shall be open for accession by any Party to the Convention.

1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
2. From the date of its entry into force, this Protocol shall replace the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency of 1976 in the relations between the Parties to both instruments.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.
 
DONE at Valletta, Malta, on 25 January 2002, in a single copy in the Arabic, English, French and Spanish languages, the four texts being equally authentic.

Pogodbenice tega protokola,
ki so pogodbenice Konvencije o varstvu Sredozemskega morja pred onesnaženjem, sprejete v Barceloni 16. februarja 1976 in spremenjene 10. junija 1995,
ki želijo izvajati 6. in 9. člen omenjene konvencije,
ki se zavedajo, da pomeni hudo onesnaženje morja z nafto ter nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi na območju Sredozemskega morja ali grožnja takega onesnaženja nevarnost za obalne države in morsko okolje,
ki sodijo, da je za preprečevanje onesnaževanja z ladij in ukrepanje ob onesnaženju ne glede na izvor potrebno sodelovanje vseh obalnih držav Sredozemskega morja,
ki priznavajo vlogo Mednarodne pomorske organizacije in pomen sodelovanja v okviru te organizacije zlasti pri spodbujanju sprejemanja in razvoja mednarodnih pravil in standardov za preprečevanje, zmanjševanje in nadziranje onesnaževanja morskega okolja z ladij,
ki poudarjajo prizadevanja sredozemskih obalnih držav pri izvajanju teh mednarodnih pravil in standardov,
ki priznavajo tudi prispevek Evropske skupnosti k izvajanju mednarodnih standardov v zvezi z varnostjo v pomorskem prometu in preprečevanjem onesnaževanja z ladij,
ki se zavedajo tudi pomena sodelovanja na območju Sredozemskega morja pri spodbujanju učinkovitega izvajanja mednarodnih predpisov za preprečevanje, zmanjševanje in nadziranje onesnaževanja morskega okolja z ladij,
ki se še naprej zavedajo pomena hitrega in učinkovitega ukrepanja na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni pri sprejemanju nujnih ukrepov ob onesnaženju morskega okolja ali grožnji takega onesnaženja,
ki uporabljajo previdnostno načelo, načelo plača povzročitelj obremenitve, metodo presoje vplivov na okolje ter najustreznejše razpoložljive tehnologije in najboljšo okoljsko prakso iz 4. člena konvencije,
ki upoštevajo ustrezne določbe veljavne Konvencije Združenih narodov o pomorskem mednarodnem pravu, sestavljene 10. decembra 1982 v Montego Bayu, katere pogodbenice so številne sredozemske obalne države in Evropska skupnost,
ki upoštevajo mednarodne konvencije predvsem o varnosti v pomorskem prometu, preprečevanju onesnaževanja z ladij, pripravljenosti in ukrepanju ob onesnaženju ter odgovornosti in odškodnini za škodo, nastalo zaradi onesnaženja,
ki želijo še naprej razvijati medsebojno pomoč in sodelovanje pri preprečevanju onesnaževanja in v boju proti njemu,

V tem protokolu:
(a) "konvencija" pomeni Konvencijo o varstvu Sredozemskega morja pred onesnaženjem, sprejeto v Barceloni 16. februarja 1976 in spremenjeno 10. junija 1995;
(b) "onesnaženje" pomeni dogodek ali zaporedje dogodkov istega izvora, katerih posledica je ali je lahko izpust nafte in/ali nevarnih ter škodljivih snovi in ki ogroža ali lahko ogroža morsko okolje ali obalni pas ali s tem povezane interese ene ali več držav in ki zahteva nujno ukrepanje ali drugo obliko takojšnjega odziva;
(c) "nevarne in škodljive snovi" pomeni katero koli snov razen nafte, ki bi lahko pri vnosu v morsko okolje ogrozila zdravje ljudi, škodovala živim organizmom in življenju v morju, poškodovala dobrine ali ovirala drugo zakonito rabo morja;
(d) "s tem povezani interesi" pomeni interese obalnih držav, ki so neposredno prizadeti ali ogroženi in se med drugim nanašajo na:
(i) pomorske dejavnosti na obalnih območjih, v pristaniščih ali rečnih ustjih, vključno z ribolovnimi dejavnostmi;
(ii) zgodovinske in turistične znamenitosti zadevnega območja, vključno z vodnimi športi in rekreacijo;
(iii) zdravje obalnega prebivalstva;
(iv) kulturno, estetsko, znanstveno in izobraževalno vrednost območja;
(v) ohranitev biološke raznovrstnosti in trajnostno rabo morskih in obalnih bioloških virov;
(e) "mednarodni predpisi" pomeni predpise, namenjene preprečevanju, zmanjševanju in nadziranju onesnaževanja morskega okolja z ladij, sprejete na globalni ravni in v skladu z mednarodnim pravom v okviru specializiranih agencij Združenih narodov in zlasti Mednarodne pomorske organizacije;
(f) "regionalni center" pomeni "Regionalni pomorski center za ukrepanje ob izrednih dogodkih onesnaženja Sredozemskega morja" (REMPEC), ustanovljen z resolucijo št. 7, sprejeto na Konferenci pooblaščenih predstavnikov obalnih držav Sredozemlja o varstvu Sredozemskega morja v Barceloni 9. februarja 1976, ki ga vodita Mednarodna pomorska organizacija in Program Združenih narodov za okolje ter katerega cilje in naloge opredelijo pogodbenice konvencije.

Območje, za katero se uporablja ta protokol, je območje Sredozemskega morja, kot je opredeljeno v 1. členu konvencije.

1. Pogodbenice sodelujejo:
(a) pri izvajanju mednarodnih predpisov za preprečevanje, zmanjševanje in nadziranje onesnaževanja morskega okolja z ladij in
(b) sprejemanju vseh potrebnih ukrepov ob onesnaženju.
2. Pogodbenice pri sodelovanju na primeren način upoštevajo sodelovanje lokalnih oblasti, nevladnih organizacij ter družbenogospodarskih dejavnikov.
3. Vsaka pogodbenica uporablja ta protokol brez poseganja v suverenost ali jurisdikcijo drugih pogodbenic ali drugih držav. Pogodbenica za uporabo tega protokola sprejme ukrepe, ki so v skladu z mednarodnim pravom.

1. Pogodbenice si posamično ali z dvostranskim ali večstranskim sodelovanjem prizadevajo vzdrževati in izboljševati svoje načrte ukrepov in druga sredstva za preprečevanje onesnaževanja in boj proti njemu. Ta sredstva so zlasti oprema, ladje, letala in osebje, ki so pripravljeni za ukrepanje ob izrednih dogodkih, po potrebi sprejemanje ustrezne zakonodaje, razvijanje in krepitev usposobljenosti za ukrepanje ob onesnaženju in imenovanje nacionalnega organa ali organov, odgovornih za izvajanje tega protokola.
2. Pogodbenice v skladu z mednarodnim pravom sprejmejo tudi ukrepe za preprečevanje onesnaževanja območja Sredozemskega morja z ladij, da bi na tem območju zagotovile učinkovito izvajanje ustreznih mednarodnih konvencij kot država zastave, država pristanišča in obalna država ter svoje zakonodaje s tega področja. Pogodbenice razvijajo svojo nacionalno usposobljenost za izvajanje teh mednarodnih konvencij in lahko za njihovo učinkovito izvajanje sodelujejo v okviru dvostranskih ali mnogostranskih sporazumov.
3. Pogodbenice vsaki dve leti obvestijo regionalni center o ukrepih, sprejetih za izvajanje tega člena. Regionalni center na podlagi prejetih informacij pripravi poročilo za pogodbenice.

Pogodbenice posamično ali z dvostranskim ali večstranskim sodelovanjem razvijajo, spremljajo in nadzirajo območja Sredozemskega morja za preprečevanje, odkrivanje in boj proti onesnaževanju ter zagotavljanje skladnosti z ustreznimi mednarodnimi predpisi.

Če so z ladje v morje izpuščene ali vanj padejo pakirane nevarne in škodljive snovi, vključno s tistimi v tovornih zabojnikih, premičnih cisternah, cestnih in železniških vozilih ter tovornih vlečenih plovilih, pogodbenice v mejah možnosti sodelujejo pri reševanju in dviganju teh snovi, da bi preprečile ali zmanjšale nevarnost za morsko in obalno okolje.

1. Vsaka pogodbenica se zavezuje pošiljati drugim pogodbenicam informacije o:
(a) pristojni nacionalni organizaciji ali organih, odgovornih za boj proti onesnaževanju morja z nafto ter nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi;
(b) pristojnih nacionalnih organih, odgovornih za sprejemanje poročil o onesnaženju morja z nafto ter nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi ter obravnavo zadev v zvezi z ukrepi pomoči med pogodbenicami;
(c) nacionalnih organih, pooblaščenih za delovanje v imenu države v zvezi z ukrepi medsebojne pomoči in sodelovanja med pogodbenicami;
(d) nacionalni organizaciji ali organih, odgovornih za izvajanje drugega odstavka 4. člena, zlasti o tistih, odgovornih za izvajanje zadevnih mednarodnih konvencij in drugih ustreznih predpisov, tistih, odgovornih za sprejemne zmogljivosti pristanišč, in tistih, odgovornih za spremljanje in nadziranje izpustov, ki so nezakoniti po MARPOL 73/78;
(e) svojih predpisih in drugih zadevah, ki neposredno vplivajo na pripravljenost in ukrepanje ob onesnaženju morja z nafto ter nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi;
(f) novih načinih, s katerimi se je mogoče izogniti onesnaženju morja z nafto ter nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi, novih ukrepih za boj proti onesnaževanju, novih razvojnih dosežkih v tehnologiji za spremljanje in nadziranje ter razvoju raziskovalnih programov.
2. Pogodbenice, ki se dogovorijo za neposredno izmenjavo informacij, jih sporočajo regionalnemu centru. Ta informacije sporoči drugim pogodbenicam in na podlagi vzajemnosti obalnim državam na območju Sredozemskega morja, ki niso pogodbenice tega protokola.
3. Pogodbenice, ki sklenejo dvostranske ali mnogostranske sporazume v okviru tega protokola, o teh sporazumih obvestijo regionalni center, ta pa o njih obvesti druge pogodbenice.

Pogodbenice se zavezujejo usklajevati uporabo sredstev sporočanja, s katerimi razpolagajo, da bi s potrebno hitrostjo in zanesljivostjo zagotovile sprejetje, prenos in pošiljanje vseh poročil in nujnih informacij o onesnaženju. Regionalni center ima potrebna sredstva sporočanja, ki mu omogočajo, da sodeluje pri takih usklajenih prizadevanjih, predvsem pa da opravlja naloge, ki so mu dodeljene v drugem odstavku 12. člena.

1. Vsaka pogodbenica izda navodila poveljnikom ali drugim osebam, odgovornim za ladje, ki plovejo pod njeno zastavo, in pilotom zrakoplovov, registriranih na njenem ozemlju, da glede na okoliščine na najhitrejši in najprimernejši način po postopku poročanja, v obsegu in v skladu z ustreznimi določbami ustreznih mednarodnih sporazumov obvestijo najbližjo obalno državo in to pogodbenico o:
(a) vseh dogodkih, katerih posledica je ali bi lahko bil izpust nafte ali nevarnih in škodljivih snovi;
(b) navzočnosti, lastnostih in obsegu razlitij nafte ali nevarnih in škodljivih snovi, vključno s pakiranimi nevarnimi in škodljivimi snovmi, opaženih na morju, ki ogrožajo ali bi lahko ogrožali morsko okolje ali obalo ali s tem povezane interese ene ali več pogodbenic.
2. Brez vpliva na določbe 20. člena protokola vsaka pogodbenica sprejme primerne ukrepe, da bi zagotovila, da poveljnik vsake ladje, ki plove v njenem teritorialnem morju, izpolnjuje obveznosti iz pododstavkov (a) in (b) prvega odstavka in lahko v tej zvezi zaprosi regionalni center za pomoč. O sprejetih ukrepih obvesti Mednarodno pomorsko organizacijo.
3. Vsaka pogodbenica izda tudi navodila osebam, odgovornim za morska pristanišča ali naprave za pretovarjanje pod njeno jurisdikcijo, da jo v skladu z ustrezno zakonodajo obveščajo o vseh dogodkih, katerih posledica je ali bi lahko bila izpust nafte ali nevarnih in škodljivih snovi.
4. V skladu z ustreznimi določbami Protokola o varstvu Sredozemskega morja pred onesnaževanjem zaradi raziskovanja in izkoriščanja epikontinentalnega pasu ter morskega dna in podzemlja vsaka pogodbenica izda navodila osebam, odgovornim za objekte in naprave na morju pod njeno jurisdikcijo, da jo po postopku poročanja, ki ga predpiše, glede na okoliščine na najhitrejši in najprimernejši način obveščajo o vseh dogodkih, katerih posledica je ali bi lahko bila izpust nafte ali nevarnih in škodljivih snovi.
5. V prvem, tretjem in četrtem odstavku tega člena izraz "dogodek" pomeni dogodek, ki izpolnjuje pogoje, opisane v teh odstavkih, ne glede na to, ali gre za onesnaženje ali ne.
6. Ob onesnaženju se informacije, zbrane v skladu s prvim, tretjim in četrtim odstavkom, sporočijo regionalnemu centru.
7. Informacije, zbrane v skladu s prvim, tretjim in četrtim odstavkom, takoj sporoči drugim pogodbenicam, ki bi jih onesnaženje lahko prizadelo:
(a) pogodbenica, ki je prejela informacijo, po možnosti neposredno ali prek regionalnega centra, ali
(b) regionalni center.
Pri neposrednem obveščanju med pogodbenicami te obvestijo regionalni center o sprejetih ukrepih, center pa o njih obvešča druge pogodbenice.
8. Za poročanje o onesnaženju v skladu s šestim in sedmim odstavkom tega člena pogodbenice uporabljajo medsebojno dogovorjeni standardni obrazec, ki ga predlaga regionalni center.
9. Kadar pogodbenice uporabljajo določbe sedmega odstavka, jih ne zavezujejo obveznosti iz drugega odstavka 9. člena konvencije.

1. Pogodbenica ob onesnaženju:
(a) pripravi potrebne ocene vrste, obsega in možnih posledic onesnaženja oziroma vrste in približne količine nafte ali nevarnih in škodljivih snovi ter smeri in hitrosti premikanja razlite snovi;
(b) sprejme vse možne ukrepe, da prepreči, zmanjša in v čim večji meri odpravi posledice onesnaženja;
(c) vsem pogodbenicam, ki bi jih onesnaženje lahko prizadelo, takoj sporoči te ocene in jih obvesti o vseh ukrepih, ki jih je sprejela ali jih namerava sprejeti, ter hkrati iste informacije pošlje regionalnemu centru, ki jih sporoči vsem drugim pogodbenicam;
(d) še naprej opazuje položaj, dokler je to mogoče, in o njem poroča v skladu z 9. členom.
2. Pri vsakem sprejetem ukrepu za boj proti onesnaženju z ladje se ukrene vse potrebno za zavarovanje:
(a) človeških življenj;
(b) same ladje; pri tem je treba preprečiti ali čim bolj zmanjšati škodo za okolje na splošno.
Pogodbenica, ki sprejme take ukrepe, o tem neposredno ali prek regionalnega centra obvesti Mednarodno pomorsko organizacijo.

1. Pogodbenica ukrene vse potrebno, da zagotovi, da imajo ladje, ki plovejo pod njeno zastavo, na krovu načrt nujnih ukrepov ob onesnaženju, ki ga zahtevajo ustrezni mednarodni predpisi, in da je usklajen z njimi.
2. Pogodbenica zahteva, da poveljniki ladij, ki plovejo pod njeno zastavo, ob onesnaženju uporabijo postopke, opisane v načrtu nujnih ukrepov na ladji, in predvsem dajo na njihovo zahtevo ustreznim organom take podrobne informacije o ladji in njenem tovoru, kot so potrebne za ukrepe, sprejete v skladu z 9. členom, in da sodelujejo s temi organi.
3. Brez vpliva na določbe 20. člena protokola vsaka pogodbenica sprejme primerne ukrepe, da bi zagotovila, da poveljnik vsake ladje, ki plove v njenem teritorialnem morju, izpolnjuje obveznosti iz drugega odstavka in lahko v tej zvezi zaprosi regionalni center za pomoč. O sprejetih ukrepih obvesti Mednarodno pomorsko organizacijo.
4. Pogodbenica zahteva, da imajo organi ali upravljavci, odgovorni za morska pristanišča in naprave za pretovarjanje pod njeno jurisdikcijo, po presoji pogodbenice načrte nujnih ukrepov ob onesnaženju ali podobne načrte, ki so usklajeni z nacionalnim sistemom, vzpostavljenim v skladu s 4. členom, in odobreni po postopkih, ki jih določi pristojni nacionalni organ.
5. Vsaka pogodbenica zahteva, da imajo upravljavci, odgovorni za objekte in naprave na morju pod njeno jurisdikcijo, načrt ukrepov za boj proti onesnaženju, ki je usklajen z nacionalnim sistemom, vzpostavljenim v skladu s 4. členom, in postopki, ki jih določi pristojni nacionalni organ.

1. Pogodbenica, ki potrebuje pomoč ob onesnaženju, lahko druge pogodbenice zaprosi za pomoč neposredno ali prek regionalnega centra, pri čemer najprej zaprosi pogodbenice, ki bi jih onesnaženje lahko prizadelo. Pomoč tej pogodbenici lahko vključuje predvsem strokovne nasvete ter zagotavljanje ali dajanje na razpolago potrebnega specializiranega osebja, izdelkov, opreme in pomorskih objektov in naprav. Zaprošene pogodbenice morajo storiti vse, kar je v njihovi moči, da dajo tako pomoč.
2. Če se pogodbenice, ki sodelujejo pri ukrepih v boju proti onesnaženju, ne morejo dogovoriti o organizaciji ukrepov, lahko regionalni center s soglasjem vseh vpletenih pogodbenic usklajuje delovanje objektov in naprav, ki jih pogodbenice uporabljajo.
3. V skladu z veljavnimi mednarodnimi sporazumi vsaka pogodbenica sprejme potrebne pravne in upravne ukrepe, da olajša:
(a) prihod ladij, zrakoplovov in drugih prevoznih sredstev, ki se uporabljajo pri ukrepanju ob onesnaženju ali prevoz oseb, tovora, blaga in opreme, potrebnih za spopadanje s takim dogodkom, na njeno območje, njihovo uporabo na njem in odhod z njega ter
(b) hiter prihod oseb, tovora, blaga in opreme iz pododstavka (a) na njeno območje, njegov prehod in odhod z njega.

1. Če pred onesnaženjem ni sklenjen dvostranski ali mnogostranski sporazum o finančni ureditvi ukrepov pogodbenic ob onesnaženju, pogodbenice stroške svojih ukrepov pri spopadanju z onesnaženjem krijejo v skladu z drugim odstavkom.
2. (a) Če pogodbenica sprejme ukrep na izrecno prošnjo druge pogodbenice, pogodbenica prosilka pogodbenici, ki daje pomoč, povrne stroške njenih ukrepov. Če pogodbenica prosilka prošnjo prekliče, krije že nastale stroške ali stroške, ki jih je povzročila pogodbenica, ki daje pomoč;
(b) če pogodbenica sprejme ukrep na lastno pobudo, stroške svojega ukrepa krije ta pogodbenica;
(c) načela, določena v pododstavkih (a) in (b), se uporabljajo, razen če se zadevne pogodbenice v posameznem primeru ne dogovorijo drugače.
3. Če ni drugače določeno, se stroški ukrepa, ki ga sprejme pogodbenica na prošnjo druge pogodbenice, za povrnitev teh stroškov pravično izračunajo v skladu z zakonodajo in prakso pogodbenice, ki daje pomoč.
4. Pogodbenica prosilka in pogodbenica, ki daje pomoč, sodelujeta, kadar je to primerno, pri postopkih glede zahtevka za nadomestilo. V ta namen ustrezno upoštevata obstoječe pravne ureditve. Če tako izvedeni postopek ne zagotavlja celotnega nadomestila nastalih stroškov pri ukrepih pomoči, lahko pogodbenica prosilka pomoči zaprosi pogodbenico, ki pomoč daje, da se odpove povrnitvi stroškov, ki presegajo znesek nadomestila, ali da zniža stroške, izračunane v skladu s tretjim odstavkom. Prav tako lahko zaprosi za odložitev povrnitve takih stroškov. Pri obravnavi take prošnje pogodbenica, ki pomoč daje, ustrezno upošteva potrebe držav v razvoju.
5. Določbe tega člena se ne smejo razlagati, kot da kakor koli posegajo v pravice pogodbenic, da od tretjih strani zahtevajo povrnitev stroškov ukrepov, izvedenih ob onesnaženju po drugih ustreznih določbah in pravilih notranjega in mednarodnega prava, ki veljajo za eno ali drugo pri pomoči udeleženo pogodbenico.

1. Pogodbenice posamično, dvostransko ali večstransko ukrenejo vse potrebno, da v svojih pristaniščih in terminalih zagotovijo razpoložljivost sprejemnih zmogljivosti, primernih za potrebe ladij. Zagotovijo naj, da se te zmogljivosti učinkovito uporabljajo brez nepotrebnega zadrževanja ladij.
Pogodbenice se pozovejo, da preučijo načine in sredstva za zaračunavanje razumnih stroškov za uporabo teh zmogljivosti.
2. Pogodbenice zagotovijo tudi ustrezne sprejemne zmogljivosti za plovila za prosti čas in rekreacijo.
3. Pogodbenice sprejmejo vse potrebne ukrepe, da zagotovijo učinkovito delovanje sprejemnih zmogljivosti, da bi omejile vsakršen vpliv njihovih izpustov na morsko okolje.
4. Pogodbenice sprejmejo potrebne ukrepe, da so ladjam, ki uporabljajo njihova pristanišča, na voljo najnovejše informacije v zvezi z obveznostmi, ki izhajajo iz MARPOL 73/78, ter njihove veljavne zakonodaje s tega področja.

V skladu s splošno sprejetimi mednarodnimi pravili in standardi ter splošnim pooblastilom Mednarodne pomorske organizacije pogodbenice posamično, dvostransko ali večstransko sprejmejo potrebne ukrepe za oceno okoljskih tveganj priznanih poti v pomorskem prometu in sprejmejo primerne ukrepe za zmanjšanje nevarnosti nesreč ali njihovih posledic za okolje.

Pogodbenice opredelijo državne, subregionalne ali regionalne strategije za sprejem ladij v stiski, ki ogrožajo morsko okolje, v kraje zavetja, vključno s pristanišči. Pogodbenice sodelujejo pri tem in o sprejetih ukrepih obvestijo regionalni center.

Pogodbenice se lahko dogovarjajo o ustreznih dvostranskih ali mnogostranskih subregionalnih sporazumih, jih razvijajo in vzdržujejo, da bi olajšale izvajanje tega protokola ali njegovega dela. Na prošnjo zainteresiranih pogodbenic jim regionalni center pri razvijanju in izvajanju teh subregionalnih sporazumov pomaga v okviru svojih nalog.

1. Redni sestanki pogodbenic tega protokola potekajo hkrati z rednimi sestanki pogodbenic konvencije v skladu z 18. členom konvencije. Pogodbenice tega protokola lahko sklicujejo tudi izredne sestanke, kot je določeno v 18. členu konvencije.
2. Namen sestankov pogodbenic tega protokola je predvsem:
(a) pregledati in obravnavati poročila regionalnega centra o izvajanju tega protokola, predvsem 4., 7. in 16. člena;
(b) oblikovati in sprejemati strategije, načrte ukrepov in programe za izvajanje tega protokola;
(c) spremljati in obravnavati učinkovitost teh strategij, načrtov ukrepov in programov, potrebo po sprejemanju novih strategij, načrtov ukrepov in programov ter pripraviti ukrepe v ta namen;
(d) opravljati druge naloge, ki so morda potrebne za izvajanje tega protokola.

1. Določbe konvencije, ki se nanašajo na kateri koli protokol, se uporabljajo tudi za ta protokol.
2. Poslovnik in finančna pravila, sprejeti v skladu s 24. členom konvencije, se uporabljajo tudi za ta protokol, razen če se pogodbenice ne dogovorijo drugače.

Izvajanje določb tega protokola ne vpliva na pravico pogodbenic, da za zadeve, ki jih obravnava ta protokol sprejmejo ustrezne strožje notranje ukrepe ali druge ukrepe v skladu z mednarodnim pravom.

Pogodbenice, kadar je to primerno, povabijo države, ki niso pogodbenice tega protokola, in mednarodne organizacije k sodelovanju pri izvajanju protokola.

Ta protokol je na voljo za podpis v Valletti, Malta, 25. januarja 2002 in v Madridu od 26. januarja 2002 do 25. januarja 2003 vsaki pogodbenici konvencije.

Ta protokol se ratificira, sprejme ali odobri. Listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju ali odobritvi se deponirajo pri Vladi Španije, ki bo prevzela vlogo depozitarja.

Od 26. januarja 2003 je ta protokol na voljo za pristop vsaki pogodbenici konvencije.

1. Ta protokol začne veljati trideseti dan po deponiranju šeste listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.
2. Z datumom začetka njegove veljavnosti ta protokol v odnosih med pogodbenicami obeh dokumentov nadomesti Protokol o sodelovanju v boju zoper onesnaženje Sredozemskega morja z nafto in drugimi škodljivimi snovmi v primerih nezgode iz leta 1976.
 
DA BI TO POTRDILI, so podpisani, ki so bili za to pravilno pooblaščeni, podpisali ta protokol.
 
Sestavljeno v Valletti, Malta, 25. januarja 2002 v enem izvirniku v angleškem, arabskem, francoskem in španskem jeziku, pri čemer so vsa štiri besedila enako verodostojna.

Za izvajanje protokola skrbijo Ministrstvo za okolje, prostor in energijo, Ministrstvo za obrambo in Ministrstvo za promet.

Ta zakon začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije - Mednarodne pogodbe.