HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 1/12 

adopted 5 May 1980 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention 

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING STANDARD DISCHARGE CONNECTIONS 

THE COMMISSION,

MINDFUL of its duty according to Paragraph b) of Article 13 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), to make recommendations relating to the purposes of the Convention,

RECALLING the agreement reached by the Interim Commission, at its third meeting, concerning the use of standard discharge connections as prescribed by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the 1978 Protocol (MARPOL),

RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention should, with regard to ships flying the flag of a Baltic Sea State, stipulate in their national legislation the use of standard discharge connections, as required by MARPOL, even before its entry into force, in respect of discharge pipelines for bilge water and, whenever possible, discharge pipelines for bunker ballast water.