The International Maritime Organization and Ocean Dumping—Update on Carbon Capture and Seabed Storage

The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 (the “London Convention”) is an international treaty spearheaded by The International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) Contracting Parties in a collective endeavor to protect the marine environment. The United States ratified the London Convention on April 29, 1974, and the treaty entered into force 50 years ago on August 30, 1975.

In 1996, the Contracting Parties to the London Convention negotiated a subsequent treaty known as the London Protocol, which broadens the ambit of protection from marine transport to the marine environment. Although the United States signed the London Protocol in 1996, the U.S. has not ratified the London Protocol. Annex I of the London Protocol provides for the capture of Carbon Dioxide and ‘sequestration in sub-seabed geological formations.’ Annex I also contains guidelines for compliance with capture and sequestration of Carbon Dioxide.

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