sea of wastes or other matter incidental to, or derived from, the normal operations of vessels, or aircraft and their equipment, other than wastes or other matter transported by or to vessels or aircraft, operating for the purpose of disposal of such matter, or derived from the treatment of such wastes or other matter on such vessels or aircraft;(b) placement of matter for a purpose other than the mere disposal therof, provided that such placement is not contrary to the aims of this Protocol.5. 'Organization' means the body referred to in Article 13 of the Convention.Article 4The dumping into the Mediterranean Sea area of wastes or other matter listed in Annex I to this Protocol is prohibited.Article 5The dumping into the Mediterranean Sea area of all wastes or other matter listed in Annex II to this Protocol requires, in each case, a prior special permit from the competent national authorities.Article 6The dumping into the Mediterranean Sea area of all other wastes or other matter requires a prior general permit from the competent national authorities.Article 7The permits referred to in Articles 5 and 6 above shall be issued only after careful consideration of all the factors set forth in Annex III to this Protocol. The Organization shall receive records of such permits.Article 8The provisions of Articles 4, 5 and 6 shall not apply in case of force majeure due to stress of weather or any other cause when human life or the safety of a ship or aircraft is threatened. Such dumpings shall immediately be reported to the Organization and either through the Organization or directly, to any Party or Parties likely to be affected, together with full details of the circumstances and of the nature and quantities of the wastes or other matter dumped.Article 9If a Party in a critical situation of an exceptional nature considers that wastes or other matter listed in Annex I to this Protocol cannot be diposed of on land without unacceptable danger or damage, above all for the safety of human life, the Party concerned shall fortwith consult the Organization. The Organization, after consulting the Parties to this Protocol, shall recommend methods of storage or the most satisfactory means of destruction or disposal under the prevailing circumstances. The Party shall inform the Organization of the steps adopted in pursuance of these recommendations. The Parties pledge themselves to assist one another in such situations.Article 101. Each Party shall designate one or more competent authorities to:(a) issue the special permits provided for in Article 5;(b) issue the general permits provided for in Article 6;(c) keep records of the nature and quantities of the wastes or other matter permitted to be dumped and of the location, date and method of dumping.2. The competent authorities of each Party shall issue the permits provided for in Articles 5 and 6 in respect of the wastes or other matter intended for dumping:(a) loaded in its territory;(b) loaded by a ship or aircraft registered in its territory or flying its flag, when the loading occurs in the territory of a State not Party to this Protocol.Article 111. Each Party shall apply the measures required to implement this Protocol to all:(a) ships and aircraft registered in its territory or flying its flag;(b) ships and aircraft loading in its territory wastes or other matter which are to be dumped;(c) ships and aircraft believed to be engaged in dumping in areas under its jurisdiction in this matter.2. This Protocol shall not apply to any ships or aircraft owned or operated by a State Party to this Protocol and used for the time being only on Government noncommercial service. However, each Party shall ensure by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing the operations or operational capabilities of such ships or aircraft owned or operated by it, that such ships and aircraft act in a manner consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, with this Protocol.Article 12Each Party undertakes to issue instructions to its maritime inspection ships and aircraft and to other appropriate services to report to its authorities any incidents or conditions in the Mediterranean Sea area which give rise to suspicions that dumping in contravention of the provisions of this Protocol has occurred or is about to occur. That Party shall, if it considers it appropriate, report accordingly to any other Party concerned.Article 13Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the right of each Party to adopt other measures, in accordance with international law, to prevent pollution due to dumping.Article 141. Ordinary meetings of the Parties to this Protocol shall be held in conjunction with ordinary meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention held pursuant to Article 14 of the Convention. The Parties to this Protocol may also hold extraordinary meetings in conformity with Article 14 of the Convention.2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Parties to this Protocol:(a) to keep under review the implementation of this Protocol, and to consider the efficacy of the measures adopted and the need for any other measures, in particular in the form of Annexes;(b) to study and consider the records of the permits issued in accordance with Articles 5, 6 and 7 and of the dumping which has taken place;(c) to review and amend as required any Annex to this