(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objectives of this Law are to control the discharge of oil, noxious liquid substances and garbage into the ocean or emission gas into the atmosphere from vessels, or the incineration of oil, noxious liquid substance and garbage on vessels, in order to prevent marine pollution and maritime disasters by taking steps toward the elimination of discharged oil, etc., prevention of the occurrence and spread of marine fires, to ensure strict enforcement of international agreements on the prevention of marine pollution and fire at sea, and thereby contributing to the preservation of the human environment in general and the marine environment in particular.

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
In order to preserve our marine environment, all owners of every oil tanker or every other ships of 100 tons gross tonnage and above are obliged to provide on-board equipment that will ensure that the quantity of discharge of oil etc. conforms to oil emission standards (Article 5). Furthermore, all owners of ships transporting noxious liquid substances are obliged to provide on-board equipment that will ensure the quantity of noxious liquid substances discharged conforms to emission standards for harmful liquid substances (Article 9-3).
To the shipowner who installs a diesel engine with a power output of more than 130kW in a ship is obliged to establish the engine which caught burst size confirmation with nitrogen oxide (Article 19-7), to the shipowner who performs loading in of freight discharging volatile in volatile release regulation harbor is obliged to establish equipment to prevent emission of volatile organic compounds (Article 19-24), to the shipowner who burns oils and garbages which incinerates in the ship is obliged to establish equipment (Article 19-26).

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order of the Law Relating to the Prevention of Marine Pollution, Air Pollution and Marine Disaster
Enforcement Regulations of the Law Relating to the Prevention of Marine Pollution, Air Pollution and Marine Disaster
Ministerial Ordinance on the Establishment of Technical Standards for Equipment for the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Air Pollution and Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan.
Inspection Regulations of Equipment for the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Air Pollution and Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan.
Regulations of the Type Approval for Equipment for the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Air Pollution.

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Equipment for the prevention of marine pollution, Shipboard marine pollution emergency plan and Equipment for the prevention of air pollution subject to inspection

2) Outline of Specifications, Standards and Inspections
i. Application
Since technical standards concerning the installation of equipment for the prevention of marine pollution, etc. and other equipment are established on the basis of international treaties, any person intending to obtain type approval, etc. shall submit the application together with necessary documents to the District Transport Bureaus or Maritime Branches, etc.

ii. Certification
First inspections to be carried out in out in detail about equipment used on vessels for the prevention of marine pollution, etc. which has already obtained type approval and has cleared inspections, the detailed first inspection to be performed after its installation on board the ship shall be omitted.
Procedures for obtaining type approval for foreign constructors' products are being simplified. This includes acceptance of data etc. conducted by foreign testing authorities.

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
According to the adoption of Protocol of 1997 to amend MARPOL Convention and ratification thereof, the following measures were introduced:
Regulation of a diesel engine with a power output of more than 130kW (NOx control), obligation to establish an equipment to prevent emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), regulation to loading of ozone depleting substances, regulation of burning on ships, etc. (2005)

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
http://www.mlit.go.jp
Safety Standards Division Tel 03-5253-8636
Inspection and Measurement Division Tel 03-5253-8639