Revised regulations to prevent marine pollution by ships carrying oil or chemicals have been adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO .The revised MARPOL Annex 1 isexpected to enter force on 1 January 2007, incorporated the various amendments adopted since MARPOL entered into force in 1983. These include the phasing in of double hull tankers, a separation of construction and equipment provisions from operational requirements, and clear distinction between requirements for newbuilds and existing vessels.