Reduction of Emissions of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) from Ships - Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels - page 109

Table 6.1 Votes for Amendment of MARPOL Annex-VI for induction of mandatory energy
efficiency measures for reduction of GHG emissions

Not
present in
the room Yes No Abstain

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia,
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Cook
Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mar-
shall Islands, Netherlands, Norway,
Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic
of Korea, Romania, Russian Federa-
tion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa,
Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United
Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu.
Total: 49

Brazil, Chile,
China, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia.
Total: 5

Jamaica, Saint
Vincent and the
Grenadines.
Total: 2

Iran,
Kenya,
Syria.
Total: 3

“Only Parties to MARPOL Annex VI attending MEPC 62 were eligible to vote. The IMO Legal
Office confirmed that 59 of the 64 Parties to MARPOL Annex VI were registered to attend MEPC
62.” Report of the Marine Environment Protection Committee on Its Sixty-Second Session,
ANNEX 19, IMO Doc. MEPC 62/24/Add.1 (26 July 2011) p. 57

having bunker businesses, bunker oil exporting countries, climate change victim
countries, and both export and import countries. Presumably, they did not take a
similar stance, unlike European countries. Many non-Annex-I States such as
Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore voted in favor of
the amendment to Annex-VI of the MARPOL Convention; while Brazil, Chile,
China, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia voted against it. Only parties to Annex-VI of the
MARPOL Convention were eligible to vote. India is not a party to Annex-VI of the
MARPOL Convention and was not eligible to vote. However, throughout the
negotiation process, India s position was very similar to that of Brazil, Chile,

China, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Some developing countries took a leading role in the negotiation process. For
example, China, India and Venezuela played an active role in representing the
interest of leading developing countries. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia took a
leading role as an oil exporting country. The participation of LDCs, many of which
are the main victims of climate change, was very marginal.
It is clear from the voting pattern that some developing countries may not join
this new amendment (Table 6.1 ). The question lies in whether they will be able to
avoid the impact of this amendment on their shipping and trade sectors.
First, regardless of whether they join the amendment, there will be an impact on
their trade. Many countries will implement these regulations in their maritime
sector and if there is an increase in the cost of operation, the trade sector of

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