MARPOL is called "73/78" because it is a combination of the original 1973 MARPOL Convention and the 1978 Protocol that significantly modified it.
Explanation
The "73/78" designation refers to the years in which the core components of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) were adopted:
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1973: The original MARPOL Convention was adopted on November 2, 1973, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This initial convention aimed to address marine pollution from ships.
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1978: The 1978 Protocol was adopted in response to a series of tanker accidents that occurred in 1976 and 1977. These accidents highlighted significant deficiencies in the original 1973 MARPOL Convention.
The 1978 Protocol: An Amendment and Absorption
The 1973 MARPOL Convention had not yet entered into force when the 1978 Protocol was created. To expedite implementation and address the urgent need for improved regulations, the 1978 MARPOL Protocol absorbed the parent 1973 Convention. This meant that becoming a party to the 1978 Protocol also implied consent to be bound by the 1973 Convention. The combined instrument, therefore, became known as MARPOL 73/78.
Key Takeaway
In essence, MARPOL 73/78 signifies the integrated package of regulations stemming from the original 1973 Convention, significantly amended and augmented by the 1978 Protocol to provide a more robust and effective framework for preventing pollution from ships.
