The Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) requires all oil vessel owners to ensure their
crew members are properly trained to prevent and mitigate oil disasters. Furthermore,
Regulation 37 of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution From Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/ 78),
requires all oil ships to have an oil spill response plan.
Vessel emergency plans pursuant to MARPOL 73/78 provide the
actions that must be taken and the reporting requirements should a spill occur.
It also guides the ship’s crew in carrying out their responsibilities when dealing
with an unexpected oil discharge.
Initial
Steps after a Spill Occurs
Should a
spill occur or when a spill is probable, the Master and onboard officers will
need to assess the nature of the incident quickly. Then the Master should begin taking initial actions, including:
- alerting the crew
members;
- identifying and
monitoring the source of the spill;
- accounting for
personal protection;
- assessing the
characteristics of the spill;
- monitoring vapor; and
- evacuating.
Oil Pollution Reporting
Requirements
MARPOL 73/ 78
requires Masters to report any spillage and the details of the event, without
delay, to the nearest Coastal State. Masters are still required to make a
report, even if there is only a probable chance that an oil spill could occur.
Masters are to report all actual and
probable spills as follows:
- Quickest means
possible – the
Master must report by the quickest means possible to the coastal radio
station, the designated ship movement reporting station or the rescue
coordination center. If the ship is at port, they also will need to
contact the local authorities.
- Agencies to alert –
there are
multiple parties that will need to be informed of the incident, including
the nearest Coastal State Harbor, port terminal operators, the ship owner´s
manager, the P & I insurer, the cargo owner, the ship’s owner or operator,
the local agent of the company, and cleanup contractors.
- Content of report – reporting requirements are strict
and specific. Both an initial report (Res. A. 851(20)) and follow-up
reports are required. The reports must contain the characteristics of the
spill, any cargo or ballast dispositions, weather and sea conditions,
salvage, lighting capacity, external strike team, and details about
chemical dispersal.
Actions to Control Discharge
After an oil
spill, Masters are required to take numerous navigation and seamanship measures
to minimize further oil spillage and environmental threats. Some of the actions required include:
- altering the course
and/or speed;
- changing the list
and/or trim;
- assessing safety;
- anchoring;
- forecasting the
tide and weather factors;
- stabilizing damage;
- ballasting;
- transferring cargo; and
- setting up the
shipboard response for sealing leaks, firefighting and handling of
response equipment.
Master and
crew members will need to continue to monitor the activities and maintain a
close watch for the escape of oil during operations.
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