🔍 Key Concepts

• MARPOL 73/78 is an international convention that the U.S. implements through its own regulations • Think about how U.S. regulations apply to U.S.-flag vessels, regardless of where they operate • Consider the difference between international waters, Great Lakes, and inland waters, and whether pollution rules would reasonably be limited to just one area

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Would oil pollution from a U.S.-flag vessel only be a concern in one specific type of water, or in more than one? • Think about whether international conventions like MARPOL usually apply narrowly (only one area) or broadly (multiple areas) for vessels flying a party’s flag. • Consider what would happen if the regulations applied in some waters but not others—would that still protect the marine environment effectively?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify whether U.S.-flag vessels must comply with MARPOL-based regulations only when outside the U.S., or also in U.S. waters. • Check if there is any option among the choices that allows the regulations to cover more than one of the listed water areas. • Confirm that MARPOL’s purpose is global prevention of pollution from ships, not just in a single region.