MARINE POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLANNING—RECENT CHANGES IN UNITED KINGDOM ORGANIZATION

1985 ◽  
Vol 1985 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-91
Author(s):  
Michael L. Stacey
Keyword(s):  
Central Government ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Royal Commission ◽  
Related Response ◽  
The Uk

ABSTRACT The UK has recently carried out a major review of the oil pollution problem (Royal Commission Report No. 8) which has resulted in an authoritative assessment of the environmental impact of oil spills, a series of recommendations covering a wide variety of aspects of prevention and response, and government acceptance and the subsequent implementation of a number of these recommendations. This paper summarizes the essential elements of the new environmental assessment, discusses the pros and cons of the recommendations, and describes those which government has accepted. It then goes on to deal in detail with the implications of the government's acceptance of the various recommendations and records progress in their implementation. The areas it covers in detail include: A new national organization for the central integration of sea and shore response in a single unit: the Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU), responsible within central government to the Department of Transport New structures and procedures to facilitate interaction between central and local government Redirection of emphasis in the R&D field, in the provision of sea and shore related response equipment, and in contingency planning in order to redress imbalances formerly existing between sea and shore related response Further development of the safe havens policy to facilitate salvage and cargo transfer operations Greater emphasis within the MPCU on the detection of violations of discharge regulations and the collection of evidence Arrangements for closer association between government and the oil industry in relation to provision of response equipment, the development of mutually supportive contingency planning, and response arrangements

REVIEW OF UNITED KINGDOM CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND RESOURCE CAPABILITY

1983 ◽  
Vol 1983 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-197
Author(s):  
R. Adm. Michael L. Stacey
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Royal Commission ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Commission Report ◽  
Complementary Nature ◽  
Mechanical Recovery

ABSTRACT This paper reviews United Kingdom counter-pollution thinking over the past two years and with reference to the recently published Royal Commission Report on Environmental Pollution in respect of long and short-term environmental effects of oil pollution. It includes an update on present national plans, as well as the recent enhancement of the United Kingdom Marine Pollution Control Unit, and balance of resources between the use of dispersants and mechanical recovery. It assesses the complementary nature of tugboats and aircraft dispersant sprayers in the U.K. mix of government-maintained resources and describes the deployment of mechanical recovery devices. U. K. air spraying capabilities include a number of different types of aircraft, considerations of their alert availability and choices of main and secondary airfields, the provision of dispersants and logistic backup organisations, and maintenance programs for the aircraft and flying fitness assurance programs for pilots. Possible future developments, including airborne remote sensing, also are described.

UNITED KINGDOM MARINE POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLANNING—A REVIEW OF THE LAST TWO YEARS

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-169
Author(s):  
Michael L. Stacey
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Emergency Operations ◽  
Chemical Spills ◽  
Bulk Chemical ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACT A report presented two years ago at this Conference described United Kingdom marine pollution contingency planning and a number of changes that had been identified. Progress has been made in these areas and further areas for change have been identified. Responsibility for dealing with marine pollution has been centralized in a Marine Pollution Control Unit, and to this has now been added responsibility for Her Majesty's Coastguard as well as for marine casualties around the U.K., with authority vested in one post—Director, Marine Emergency Operations. Work on developing contingency plans for bulk chemical spills also has begun and some research effort has been redirected from oil spill problems to this area.

Development of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-355
Author(s):  
Cadets John P. Nolan ◽  
Susan J. Blood
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Pollution Prevention ◽  
Development Program ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Pollution Damage ◽  
Information Center

ABSTRACT The International Oil Pollution Prevention and Response (OPPR) Convention represents current international efforts to improve capabilities to prepare for and respond to catastrophic oil spills. Initiated by the United States, it is being negotiated by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Major components of the proposal include the establishment of an International Marine Pollution Information Center located at IMO headquarters, National Response Centers in each coastal state, and oil spill response contingency plans for ships. Other proposed articles include prepositioning of oil response equipment in high-risk areas, a research and development program for response techniques, and international cooperation during responses to catastrophic oil spills. Several problems have complicated negotiations of the OPPR Convention. First, severe time constraints have been placed on the negotiators, with the final conference1 to consider the OPPR scheduled for November 1990. Second, the United States suffers from a lack of credibility in the IMO, since the Senate has not yet ratified previous initiatives, the 1984 protocols to the 1969 International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, and the 1971 Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage. Finally, the IMO's financial troubles have placed the concept of the International Information Center in jeopardy. In spite of these obstacles, a clear majority of countries are willing to support the document, realizing that it fills a gap in marine oil pollution prevention and response. The OPPR Convention will likely be carried through to adoption by the November conference. This paper traces the development of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Response and Prevention. It summarizes the background and initial proposals of the Convention, and then discusses the problems that arose during negotiations. Finally, it describes the present status of the Convention and offers a projection of its future direction.

The Oil Pollution act of 1990: Key Provisions and Implications

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 695-697
Author(s):  
David M. Bovet ◽  
Charles R. Corbett
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Financial Responsibility ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Oil Transportation ◽  
National Response ◽  
New Construction

ABSTRACT The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 establishes a system of oil spill liability, compensation and financial responsibility at levels not contemplated prior to the Exxon Valdez incident. Furthermore, it does so while preserving states’ prerogatives and rejects the international solution embodied in the 1984 Protocols to the 1969 Civil Liability and 1971 Fund Conventions. The act requires new contingency planning by both industry and government and sets new construction, manning, and licensing requirements. It increases penalties, broadens enforcement responsibilities of the federal government, and enhances states’ participation in the national response program. It also establishes a billion dollar federal trust fund to supplement the liability of responsible parties. The act is likely to result in safer tanker operations and to reduce the threat of oil spills in U.S. waters. These environmental improvements will be paid for by U.S. oil consumers. Other implications include the following:Reassessment of involvement in U.S. oil transportation by both independents and oil majorsEnhanced preparedness by responsible partiesA gradual rise in freight ratesCorporate restructuring to shield liabilityFewer small oil companies and independent carriers in U.S. tradesPotential disruptions linked to new certificates of financial responsibilityPotential shortages of Alaskan trade tonnageHeightened presence of state governments in oil spill incidents, oil spill legislation, and enforcement

REVIEW OF DISPERSANT USE IN U.S. GULF OF MEXICO WATERS SINCE THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 439-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie Henry
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Monitoring Plan ◽  
Response Team ◽  
Spilled Oil

ABSTRACT Since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), dispersants have been used as part of a combined response to mitigate seven oil spills in United States Gulf of Mexico (GOM) waters. Of the dispersant operations reported, four utilized the Regional Response Team VI pre-approval authority to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) that requires a monitoring plan. The successful integration of dispersant pre-authorization along with a fully funded ready response delivery system maintained by industry contributed to the successful use of dispersants to aid in mitigating spilled oil. A key element to gaining the original pre-approval authority was a functional operational monitoring plan. While each response was considered a successful dispersant operation, each incident provided valuable lessons learned that have been integrated into subsequent contingency planning and modifications to existing pre-authorization requirements in the GOM. This paper provides a chronological review of oil spill responses where dispersants were applied in the GOM since OPA 90.

The best way to the protection of the marine environment from oil spills impacts is the strengthening of available oil spill liability and compensation regimes or the funding of oil spill preparedness and strengthening of oil spill combat capabilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017108
Author(s):  
A J M Gunasekara
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Civil Liability ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
The Past ◽  
Funding Mechanism ◽  
Coastal And Marine Environment

The total volume of oil spilled and the number of spills has declined significantly over the past forty years. However, oil spills are no longer considered as an unavoidable. The ship source oil pollution still remains a potentially important risk to the local economies and the marine environment which can cause major economic loss and severe damages to the coastal and marine environment. The international regulatory framework to deal with liability and compensation in the event of ship source oil pollution has evolved over the past three decades. The available international legal regime for oil pollution liability and compensation is playing a great role in governing a discharge of oil into the sea by ensuring liability for polluters and compensation for victims of pollution. Despite the fact that the total cost of the oil spill cannot be compensated through the available international civil liability regime and entire damages caused to the marine environment cannot be compensated or recovered. This paper examined the application and limitations of available liability and compensation mechanism for the protection marine pollution and compare the benefit of the establishment of a funding mechanism for the strengthening of the level of oil spill preparedness and the civil liability regime for the protection of the coastal and marine environment. In addition, this paper reviews the funding mechanism adopted by the countries to the strengthening the level of oil spill preparedness taken into account the polluter pays principle without a putting extra burden for the general taxpayers. The establishment of a system for the funding of oil spill preparedness using the polluter pay principle has immensely helped to improve the oil spill response capabilities and protection of the marine environment of coastal states which adopted a unique funding mechanism by applying the polluter pay principle. This paper recommends the among other thing review the available compensation and liability regime for the protection of the marine environment and recommend to adopt and apply a uniform funding mechanism for the strengthening of the level of oil spill preparedness taken into account the polluter pay principle for the protection of the marine environment and improve the status quo.

scholarly journals Multi-Criteria Analysis of Different Approaches to Protect the Marine and Coastal Environment from Oil Spills

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antigoni Zafirakou ◽  
Stefania Themeli ◽  
Eythymia Tsami ◽  
Georgios Aretoulis
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Coastal Environment ◽  
Strategic Development ◽  
Multicriteria Method ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Physical Degradation

Marine pollution has many different sources. This study focuses on oil spills that may occur after a ship collision or during oil extraction and other oil tanker activities. The most critical oil spill accidents are presented, followed by the regulatory framework on maritime oil spill management. Among the measures taken towards the protection of the marine and coastal environment from oil pollution are floating booms and barriers, oil collecting materials and vessels, absorbent materials, chemical dispersants, other chemicals, physical degradation, biodegradation, on-site oil burning. These measures may assist coastal facilities and local authorities in their strategic development of oil spill mitigation planning and response towards coastal and marine protection from oil spills. In the present paper, the aim is to rank the approaches of dealing with the oil spill by means of a multicriteria method. The theoretical background of the selected multicriteria method, called PROMETHEE, is briefly presented; necessary to understand the ranking of the treatment approaches as well as the subsequent findings of the possible criteria for the analysis. Almost all of the scenarios evaluated rank floating booms and barriers as the most suitable methods to deal with oil spill containment, followed by oil collecting materials and vessels.

scholarly journals Combating of oil spills by funding of oil spill preparedness vs funding for compensation after the spill events

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A J M Gunasekara ◽  
W P J Sathyadith
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Civil Liability ◽  
The Past ◽  
Funding Mechanism ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
Coastal And Marine Environment

• The total volume of oil spilled and the number of spills has declined significantly over the past forty years. However, oil spills are no longer considered as an unavoidable. The ship source oil pollution still remains a potentially important risk to the local economies and the marine environment which can cause major economic loss and severe damages to the coastal and marine environment. The international regulatory framework to deal with liability and compensation for ship source oil pollution has evolved over the past three decades. The available international legal regime for oil pollution liability and compensation is playing a great role in governing the discharge of oil into the sea by ensuring liability for polluters and compensation for victims of pollution. Despite the fact that the total cost of the oil spill cannot be compensated through the available international civil liability regime and entire damages caused to the marine environment cannot be compensated or recovered. This paper examined the application and limitations of available liability and compensation mechanisms for the protection of marine pollution and compares the benefit of the establishment of a funding mechanism for the strengthening of the level of oil spill preparedness and the civil liability regime for the protection of the coastal and marine environment. In addition, this paper reviews the funding mechanism adopted by the countries to strengthen a level of oil spill preparedness taken into account the polluter pays principle without putting the extra burden to general taxpayers. The establishment of a system for the funding of oil spill preparedness using the polluter pay principle has immensely helped to improve the oil spill response capabilities and protection of the marine environment of coastal states which adopted a unique funding mechanism by applying the polluter pay principle. This paper recommends among other things, review the available compensation and liability regime for the protection of the marine environment and recommend to adopt and apply a uniform funding mechanism for the strengthening of the level of oil spill preparedness taken into account the polluter pay principle for the protection of the marine environment and improve the status quo. • Liability, compensation, Preparedness, Polluters pay principle

SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL OIL SPILL RESPONSE IN THE ROPME SEA AREA

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-219
Author(s):  
P. B. Ryan ◽  
D. J. S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
External Support ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Contingency Plan ◽  
The World ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Sea Area

ABSTRACT Oil spill contingency planning is concerned with the organization of preplanned responses to anticipated oil pollution emergencies in defined geographical areas. A major factor that must be considered when drafting any contingency plan is the support that can be expected from a variety of sources in times of emergency. Oil spills vary in both their magnitude and complexity and so do the responses to such incidents. It follows, therefore, that there is a tiered structure of oil spill contingency planning and response and that there is a corresponding tiering of sources of support. This paper identifies the various tiers of oil spill planning and response and reviews the external support relevant to each tier. The discussion base of this paper relates particularly to the ROPME sea area as defined herein but many of the observations will apply to other regions of the world where similar situations may be encountered.

ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFICANT OIL SPILL INCIDENTS FROM SHIPS, 1976–19851

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Pu Bao-Kang
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Ship Construction ◽  
The Past ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Operational Errors

ABSTRACT The most important objectives of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have been improving maritime safety and preventing marine pollution. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which is responsible for coordinating IMO's activities in preventing and controlling marine pollution from ships, agreed that spills of 100 tons of oil or more should be regarded as “significant.”1 Analyses of significant oil spills (more than 100 metric tons) from ships have helped develop spill statistics, categories of spill incidents, geographical data on spills, and so on. Analyses for the past 10 years show that about 75 percent of the incidents were caused by grounding, collision, and breakdown; about 8 percent were caused by operational errors while loading, discharging, or washing tanks; and about 17 percent were due to rough weather, fire, and other causes. These analyses suggest that measures can be taken to prevent oil pollution from ships chiefly by improving safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation. This paper analyzes several incidents to understand the causes, actions taken, and results of oil spills in different circumstances and with different types of oil. It also examines IMO's achievements in combating oil pollution and the difficulties that have been met in implementing Annex I of the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78).

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