Definition(s)
Special Area
Special area means a sea area where for recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographic and ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution by garbage is required.
For the purposes of this Annex the special areas are the Mediterranean Sea area, the Baltic Sea area, the Black Sea area, the Red Sea area, the Gulfs area, the North Sea area, the Antarctic area and the Wider Caribbean Region, which are defined as follows:
.1 The Mediterranean Sea area means the Mediterranean Sea proper including the gulfs and seas therein with the boundary between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea constituted by the 41º N parallel and bounded to the west by the Straits of Gibraltar at the meridian 5°36΄ W.
.2 The Baltic Sea area means the Baltic Sea proper with the Gulf of Bothni and the Gulf of Finland and the entrance to the Baltic Sea bounded by the parallel of the Skaw in the Skagerrak at 57º 44.8΄ N.
.3 The Black Sea area means the Black Sea proper with the boundary between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea constituted by the parallel 41º N.
.4 The Red Sea area means the Red Sea proper including the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba bounded at the south by the rhumb line between Ras si Ane (12º 28.5΄ N, 43º 19.6΄ E) and Husn Murad (12º 40.4΄ N, 43º 30.2΄ E).
.5 The Gulfs area means the sea area located north-west of the rhumb line between Ras al Hadd (22º 30΄ N, 59º 48΄ E) and Ras al Fasteh (25º 04΄ N, 61º 25΄ E).
.6 The North Sea area means the North Sea proper including seas therein with the boundary between:
.1 the North Sea southwards of latitude 62º N and eastwards of longitude 4º W;
.2 the Skagerrak, the southern limit of which is determined east of the Skaw by latitude 57º 44.8΄ N; and
.3 the English Channel and its approaches eastwards of longitude 5º W and northwards of latitude 48º 30΄ N.
.7 The Antarctic area means the sea area south of latitude 60º S.
.8 The Wider Caribbean Region means the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea proper including the bays and seas therein and that portion of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary constituted by the 30° N parallel from Florida eastward to 77°30΄ W meridian, thence a rhumb line to the intersection of 20° N parallel and 59° W meridian, thence a rhumb line to the intersection of 7°20′ N parallel and 50° W meridian, thence a rhumb line drawn southwesterly to the eastern boundary of French Guianat.
Source: Resolution MEPC.201(62), amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Revised MARPOL Annex V), 15 July 2011, International Maritime Organization. Legislation