International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation

International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) is an international maritime convention establishing measures for dealing with marine oil pollution incidents nationally and in co-operation with other countries.[1] As of April 2016, there are 109 state parties to the convention.[2]

OPRC Convention was drafted within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and adopted in 1990 entering into force in 1995. In 2000 a Protocol to the Convention relating to hazardous and noxious substances was adopted.

In accordance with this Convention and its Annex, States-Parties to the 1990 Convention undertake, individually or jointly, to take all appropriate measures to prepare for and respond to oil pollution incidents.

Scope

The Convention applies to:

The Convention does not apply to warships, naval auxiliary or other ships owned or operated by a State and used only on government non-commercial service. However, Parties to the Convention ensure by the adoption of appropriate measures that such ships act in a manner consistent with the Convention.

Oil pollution emergency plans

Ships are required to carry a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan, in accordance with the provisions adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for this purpose. These plans are subject, while in a port or at an offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of a Party, to inspection by officers duly authorized by that Party.

Operators of offshore units under the jurisdiction of the Parties are required to have oil pollution emergency plans, which are co-ordinated with the national system for responding to oil pollution incidents, approved in accordance with procedures established by the competent national authority.

Authorities or operators in charge of sea ports and oil handling facilities under the jurisdiction of Parties are also required to have oil pollution emergency plans or similar arrangements which are co-ordinated with the national oil pollution response system).[4]

Oil pollution reporting procedures

In accordance with the Convention masters or other persons having charge of ships flying the flag of a Party and persons having charge of offshore units under the jurisdiction of a Party are required to report without delay any event on their ship or offshore unit involving a discharge or probable discharge of oil:

(i) in the case of a ship, to the nearest coastal State;

(ii) in the case of an offshore unit, to the coastal State to whose jurisdiction the unit is subject.

Masters or other persons having charge of ships flying the flag of a party and persons having charge of offshore units under the jurisdiction of a Party are also required to report without delay in a similar way any observed event at sea involving a discharge of oil or the presence of oil.

Persons having charge of sea ports and oil handling facilities under the jurisdiction of a Party are required to report without delay any event involving a discharge or probable discharge of oil or the presence of oil to the competent national authority.

Parties to the Convention are required to instruct its maritime inspection vessels or aircraft and other appropriate services or officials to report without delay any observed event at sea or at a sea port or oil handling facility involving a discharge of oil or the presence of oil to the competent national authority or to the nearest coastal State; and request the pilots of civil aircraft to report without delay any observed event at sea involving a discharge of oil or the presence of oil to the nearest coastal State).[5]

National and regional systems for preparedness and response

Each Party is under obligation to establish a national system for responding promptly and effectively to oil pollution incidents. Such system comprises:

  1. designated competent national authority or authorities with responsibility for oil pollution preparedness and response;
  2. national operational contact point or points, responsible for the receipt and transmission of oil pollution reports; and
  3. authority which is entitled to act on behalf of the State to request assistance or to decide to render the assistance requested.

Also, the system includes a national contingency plan for preparedness and response outlining the organizational relationship of the various involved bodies, public or private, taking into account guidelines developed by the IMO.[6]

In addition, each Party, either individually or through bilateral or multilateral co-operation and in co-operation with the oil and shipping industries, port authorities and other relevant entities, has to establish:

International co-operation in pollution response

Parties are required to co-operate and provide advisory services, technical support and equipment for the purpose of responding to an oil pollution incident upon the request of any Party affected or likely to be affected by such incident. The financing of the costs for such assistance is based on the provisions set out in the Annex to the Convention.[8]

References

  1. ↑ IMO summary of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation
  2. ↑ Ratifications.
  3. ↑ IMO summary of the OPRC
  4. ↑ Article 3 of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC)
  5. ↑ Article 4 of the OPRC
  6. ↑ ITOPF on OPRC and Protocol thereto
  7. ↑ Article 6 of the OPRC
  8. ↑ Articles 7–10 of the OPRC

Further reading

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