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1. The present Protocol shall be open for signature at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (hereinafter referred to as the “Organization”) from 1 January 1998 until 31 December 1998 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. Only Contracting States to the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the “1978 Protocol”) may become Parties to the present Protocol by:
a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
b) signature, subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or
c) accession.
2. Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General of the Organization (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary-General”).