The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ship, 1973, as modified by the Proto-col of 1978 relating thereto, well known as MARPOL 73/78, is probably the most important international agreement on the subject of marine pollution. The main purpose of the Convention is to reduce the total oil remaining on board vessel to minimum. MARPOL is a combination of different sets of rules on oil, chemicals, noxious substances in package forms, sewage and garbage as shown on each Annex. Since the Convention has globally set forth in 1973, it has amended so often whenever reasonable articles are requi-red by contracting states under guidelines of IMO. The amendments, for instance, have continuously perfo-rmed more than 8 times regarding articles, protocols, and five annexes because the original text was badly drafted as the control measures were expressed in general way. This paper, therefore, is intend to summa-rize a main point relating to each amendment, so that persons who have an interest in the Convention would be completely understand for practical implementation. Especially, for legislative purpose or annen-dement of domestic law, it could timely be contributable if specific consolidation and unified interpretations are followed with this paper. Consequently it is much more worth to study for preventing marine pollution from ship with tracing every moment whenever the Convention formally adopted through amending up-to-data.

• 황석갑