1. This Protocol shall enter into force twelve months after the date on which not less than fifteen States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited the requisite instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in accordance with article 13.

2. For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect of this Protocol after the requirements for entry into force thereof have been met but prior to the date of entry into force, the ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall take effect on the date of entry into force of this Protocol or three months after the date of deposit of the instrument, whichever is the later date.

3. For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession after the date on which this Protocol entered into force, this Protocol shall become effective three months after the date of deposit of the instrument.

4. After the date on which an amendment to this Protocol is deemed to have been accepted under article 12, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall apply to this Protocol as amended.

DENUNCIATION

Article XVI

1. This Protocol may be denounced by any Party at any time after the expiry of five years from the date on which this Protocol enters into force for that Party.

2. Denunciation shall be effected by notification in writing to the Secretary-General.

3. A denunciation shall take effect twelve months after receipt of the notification of denunciation by the Secretary-General or after the expiry of any longer period which may be indicated in the notification.

4. A Party denouncing the OPRC Convention also automatically denounces the Protocol.

AMENDMENTS

Article XII

1. This Protocol may be amended by one of the procedures specified in the following paragraphs.

2. Amendment after consideration by the Organization:

• (a) Any amendment proposed by a Party to the Protocol shall be submitted to the Organization and circulated by the Secretary-General to all Members of the Organization and all Parties at least six months prior to its consideration.
• (b) Any amendment proposed and circulated as above shall be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the Organization for consideration.
• (c) Parties to the Protocol, whether or not Members of the Organization, shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of the Marine Environment Protection Committee.
• (d) Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of only the Parties to the Protocol present and voting.
• (e) If adopted in accordance with subparagraph (d), amendments shall be communicated by the Secretary-General to all Parties to the Protocol for acceptance.
• (f) (i) An amendment to an article or the Annex of the Protocol shall be deemed to have been accepted on the date on which two thirds of the Parties have notified the Secretary-General that they have accepted it.
  • (ii) An amendment to an appendix shall be deemed to have been accepted at the end of a period to be determined by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at the time of its adoption, in accordance with subparagraph (d), which period shall not be less than ten months, unless within that period an objection is communicated to the Secretary-General by not less than one third of the Parties.
• (g) (i) An amendment to an article or the Annex of the Protocol accepted in conformity with subparagraph (f)(i) shall enter into force six months after the date on which it is deemed to have been accepted with respect to the Parties which have notified the Secretary-General that they have accepted it.
  • (ii) An amendment to an appendix accepted in conformity with subparagraph (f)(ii) shall enter into force six months after the date on which it is deemed to have been accepted with respect to all Parties with the exception of those which, before that date, have objected to it. A Party may at any time withdraw a previously communicated objection by submitting a notification to that effect to the Secretary-General.

3. Amendment by a Conference:

• (a) Upon the request of a Party, concurred with by at least one third of the Parties, the Secretary-General shall convene a Conference of Parties to the Protocol to consider amendments to the Protocol.
• (b) An amendment adopted by such a Conference by a two-thirds majority of those Parties present and voting shall be communicated by the Secretary-General to all Parties for their acceptance.
• (c) Unless the Conference decides otherwise, the amendment shall be deemed to have been accepted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (2)(f) and (g).

4. The adoption and entry into force of an amendment constituting an addition of an Annex or an appendix shall be subject to the procedure applicable to an amendment to the Annex.

5. Any Party which:

• (a) has not accepted an amendment to an article or the Annex under paragraph (2)(f)(i); or
• (b) has not accepted an amendment constituting an addition of an Annex or an appendix under paragraph (4); or
• (c) has communicated an objection to an amendment to an appendix under paragraph (2)(f)(ii)

shall be treated as a non-Party only for the purpose of the application of such amendment. Such treatment shall terminate upon the submission of a notification of acceptance under paragraph (2)(f)(i) or withdrawal of the objection under paragraph (2)(g)(ii).

6. The Secretary-General shall inform all parties of any amendment which enters into force under this article, together with the date on which the amendment enters into force.

7. Any notification of acceptance of, objection to, or withdrawal of objection to, an amendment under this article shall be communicated in writing to the Secretary-General who shall inform Parties of such notification and the date of its receipt.

8. An appendix to the Protocol shall contain any provisions of a technical nature.