A/RES/70/235 Oceans and the law of the sea granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 164. Recognizes that international shipping rules and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization in respect of maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and the prevention and control of marine pollution, complemented by best practices of the shipping industry, have led to a significant reduction in maritime accidents and pollution incidents, encourages all States to participate in the Voluntary International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme, 75 and notes the decision of the International Maritime Organization to institutionalize the Audit Scheme, with the expected mandatory use of the International Maritime Organization Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) from 1 January 2016; 76 165. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), and encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies to support the effective implementation of the requirements of the Polar Code which are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017; 166. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization on matters related to passenger ship safety in light of recent accidents, and encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies to support continued efforts, including technical cooperation activities, to improve passenger ship safety; 167. Recognizes that maritime safety can also be improved through effective port State control, the strengthening of regional arrangements and increased coordination and cooperation among them and increased transparency and information-sharing, including among safety and security sectors; 168. Encourages flag States to take appropriate measures sufficient to achieve or maintain recognition by intergovernmental arrangements that recognize satisfactory flag State performance, including, as appropriate, satisfactory port State control examination results on a sustained basis, with a view to improving quality shipping and furthering flag State implementation of relevant instruments under the International Maritime Organization as well as relevant goals and objectives of the present resolution; IX Marine environment and marine resources 169. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 170. Recalls that in “The future we want”, States noted with concern that the health of oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine pollution, including marine debris, especially plastic, persistent organic pollutants, _______________ 75 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.946(23). See International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1018(26), A.1067(28), A.1068(28) and A.1070(28). 76 30/53