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OPRC convention enters into force
Marine Pollution Bulletin
OPRC Convention Enters into Force A treaty designed to help Governments combat major oil pollution incidents has fulfilled requirements for entry into force, and it became international law on 13 May 1995. The treaty is the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) which was adopted in November 1990 by a conference convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency concerned with maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships. The Convention is designed to facilitate international co-operation and mutual assistance in preparing for and responding to a major oil pollution incident, and to encourage states to develop and maintain an adequate capability to deal with oil pollution emergencies. It is concerned with preparedness and response issues related to oil pollution emergencies (petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products) posing a threat to the marine environment, or to coastline or related interests of States. It is also to be applied to hazardous and noxious substances pending revision of the Convention to cover such substances. The main features of the Convention include: • International co-operation and mutual assistance in which contracting parties agree to co-operate, and to render assistance to parties that request assistance to deal with oil pollution incidents subject to capability and availability of relevant resources. • Pollution reporting where contracting parties agree to ensure that ships, offshore units, aircraft, seaports and oil handling facilities report oil pollution incidents to the nearest coastal State or competent national authority and advise neighbouring States at risk and IMO, as appropriate. • Oil pollution emergency plans which are required for oil tankers of 150 gross t and above, and other ships of 400 gross t and above; any fixed or floating offshore installation or structure engaged in gas or oil exploration, exploitation, production activities or loading or unloading oil; and any seaport and oil handling facility that presents a risk of an oil pollution incident. The Convention imposes an obligation to establish a national system for responding promptly and effectively to oil pollution incidents. This includes, as a basic minimum, the creation of: a national contingency plan; designated national authorities and operational focal points responsible for oil pollution preparedness and response; reporting and handling requests for assistance. Each party, either individually or through cooperation with other countries and, as appropriate, oil and shipping industries, port authorities, and other relevant entities, shall establish: • minimum levels of pre-positioned oil spill response 432
equipment, proportionate to the risk involved, and programmes for its use; • programme of exercises for oil pollution response organizations, and training of relevant personnel; • detailed plans and communication capabilities for responding to oil pollution incidents; • mechanism or arrangement for co-ordinating response to oil pollution incidents with, if appropriate, the capabilities to mobilize the necessary resources. The Convention also allocates to IMO an important role as operator of an Oil Pollution Co-ordination Centre. Its purpose is to carry out specific functions such as providing information services, education and training, technical assistance and the co-ordination and mobilization of the international response to major pollution incidents. The OPRC Convention has so far been accepted by 21 countries. They are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Senegal, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, the US, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Chemical Weapons Resurface in the UK Remnants of chemical weapons filled with mustard and phosgene gas, dumped at sea after World War II, are thought to have been recently washed up on UK beaches. Concern and questions have been raised in Parliament as to what action the government is taking to check its records of disposed chemical weapons and to investigate the current and possible future risk of material entering the food chain or injuring fishermen. A U K government spokesman said that approximately 120 000 t of chemical warfare munitions were disposed of by deep-sea dumping between 1945 and 1949. 25 000 t of residual UK and ex-German World War II munitions containing the nerve agent Tabun were dumped in the Atlantic between 1955 and 1957. At that time, sea-dumping was considered to be the safest and most practical disposal method, and current scientific evidence, according to the UK government spokesman, has indicated that these chemical weapon dump sites present no significant risk to human health or to the marine environment. The consensus of scientific opinion is to leave chemical weapons dump sites undisturbed. The chemicals in the weapons either rapidly hydrolyze to non-toxic components or are rendered ineffective through dilution. No monitoring of the Atlantic dump sites has therefore been undertaken or is planned. HAMISH MA1R
Marine Waste Disposal Survey Results Announced Results from a survey examining facilities provided in UK ports and harbours for ships to dispose of waste
OPRC Convention Enters into Force A treaty designed to help Governments combat major oil pollution incidents has fulfilled requirements for entry into force, and it became international law on 13 May 1995. The treaty is the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) which was adopted in November 1990 by a conference convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency concerned with maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships. The Convention is designed to facilitate international co-operation and mutual assistance in preparing for and responding to a major oil pollution incident, and to encourage states to develop and maintain an adequate capability to deal with oil pollution emergencies. It is concerned with preparedness and response issues related to oil pollution emergencies (petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products) posing a threat to the marine environment, or to coastline or related interests of States. It is also to be applied to hazardous and noxious substances pending revision of the Convention to cover such substances. The main features of the Convention include: • International co-operation and mutual assistance in which contracting parties agree to co-operate, and to render assistance to parties that request assistance to deal with oil pollution incidents subject to capability and availability of relevant resources. • Pollution reporting where contracting parties agree to ensure that ships, offshore units, aircraft, seaports and oil handling facilities report oil pollution incidents to the nearest coastal State or competent national authority and advise neighbouring States at risk and IMO, as appropriate. • Oil pollution emergency plans which are required for oil tankers of 150 gross t and above, and other ships of 400 gross t and above; any fixed or floating offshore installation or structure engaged in gas or oil exploration, exploitation, production activities or loading or unloading oil; and any seaport and oil handling facility that presents a risk of an oil pollution incident. The Convention imposes an obligation to establish a national system for responding promptly and effectively to oil pollution incidents. This includes, as a basic minimum, the creation of: a national contingency plan; designated national authorities and operational focal points responsible for oil pollution preparedness and response; reporting and handling requests for assistance. Each party, either individually or through cooperation with other countries and, as appropriate, oil and shipping industries, port authorities, and other relevant entities, shall establish: • minimum levels of pre-positioned oil spill response 432
equipment, proportionate to the risk involved, and programmes for its use; • programme of exercises for oil pollution response organizations, and training of relevant personnel; • detailed plans and communication capabilities for responding to oil pollution incidents; • mechanism or arrangement for co-ordinating response to oil pollution incidents with, if appropriate, the capabilities to mobilize the necessary resources. The Convention also allocates to IMO an important role as operator of an Oil Pollution Co-ordination Centre. Its purpose is to carry out specific functions such as providing information services, education and training, technical assistance and the co-ordination and mobilization of the international response to major pollution incidents. The OPRC Convention has so far been accepted by 21 countries. They are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Senegal, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, the US, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Chemical Weapons Resurface in the UK Remnants of chemical weapons filled with mustard and phosgene gas, dumped at sea after World War II, are thought to have been recently washed up on UK beaches. Concern and questions have been raised in Parliament as to what action the government is taking to check its records of disposed chemical weapons and to investigate the current and possible future risk of material entering the food chain or injuring fishermen. A U K government spokesman said that approximately 120 000 t of chemical warfare munitions were disposed of by deep-sea dumping between 1945 and 1949. 25 000 t of residual UK and ex-German World War II munitions containing the nerve agent Tabun were dumped in the Atlantic between 1955 and 1957. At that time, sea-dumping was considered to be the safest and most practical disposal method, and current scientific evidence, according to the UK government spokesman, has indicated that these chemical weapon dump sites present no significant risk to human health or to the marine environment. The consensus of scientific opinion is to leave chemical weapons dump sites undisturbed. The chemicals in the weapons either rapidly hydrolyze to non-toxic components or are rendered ineffective through dilution. No monitoring of the Atlantic dump sites has therefore been undertaken or is planned. HAMISH MA1R
Marine Waste Disposal Survey Results Announced Results from a survey examining facilities provided in UK ports and harbours for ships to dispose of waste