290 likes | 565 Views
Organisation of oil spill response in the UK – The National Contingency Plan. UK Pollution Control Zone. Extends to 200 nautical miles from the coastline or to the nearest median line with neighbouring coastal states UK has 10,500 Miles of coast.
E N D
Organisation of oil spill response in the UK – The National Contingency Plan
UK Pollution Control Zone Extends to 200 nautical miles from the coastline or to the nearest median line with neighbouring coastal states UK has 10,500 Miles of coast
The Tiered Response for Crude Oil &Refined Petroleum Products TIER ONE Small operational spill - local resources TIER TWO Medium sized spill - regional assistance TIER THREE Large spill – National Assistance (National Contingency Plan)
Who is involved and who does what ? • HMCG - Her Majesty’s Coastguard • CPSO - Counter Pollution & Salvage Officer • SOSREP – Secretary of State’s Representative • SCU – Salvage Control Unit • MRC – Marine Response Centre • SRC – Shoreline Response Centre • EG – Environment Group
Who calls who? • First call usually to HMCG • Then CPSO • Then scientist who will contact • Local Authorities • Environment Group
All depends on incident type and magnitude • Minor incident – info only • Minor with potential - ? • Major? • Examples
Command and Control Secretary of State Chief Executive MCA Director of Operations MCA SOSREP SCU Salvage operations HMCG Search and Rescue MRC At-sea response operations MCA SRC Shoreline clean-up LA + MCA Environment Group Environmental advice
UK Maritime incident response • Each unit has a specific role • Some units make decisions and initiate actions • Some units have statutory powers, some do not • Some provide advice to other units Prime objective of all involved to minimise the potential effects of the pollution
HMCG • HMCG is most often the first organisation notified of an oil spill at sea • SAR Search and Rescue • In support of oil spill response: • Provide communications, marine safety information broadcasts, • Assists with deployment of ETVs and helicopters, MCA Boats • Mobilise personnel to key locations • Provide local knowledge of area
Duty CPSO • Make assessment of incident and assume responsibility for CP & S implications of incident • arrange to deploy assets • liaise with owners / operators • Inform relevant authorities / organisations • activate Marine Emergency Information Room (MEIR), if appropriate • contact CP Scientist who will discuss with LAs and carry out any oil spill modeling • notify the MCA Media Team
Duty CPSO • Establishment of contacts during incidents: MCA CPR DEFRA SOSREP Ship Owners P&I Clubs Aircraft Response Pollution Contractors Tug Companies & Brokers CPSO Ship Agents Ports & Harbours MCA MO & MCO’s MRCCs Environment Protection Agencies Oil & Gas Operators DTI DNSARO Salvors MCA Press
SOSREP • SOSREP • SOSREP has ultimate powers to intervene on behalf of Secretary of State for Transport in any salvage situation or situation where there is a threat of significant pollution • Powers to Intervene and issue Directions • Powers to require ships to be moved or not to be moved from a specific area or locality within UK Waters. • Powers to establish Temporary Exclusion Zone (TEZ)
Salvage Control Unit (SCU) • Purpose of SCU is to support SOSREP by: • Considering information on progress of salvage • Evaluating all possible options • Interacting with on board Salvage Team • Providing feedback with other units such as MRC, MEIR, Environment Group • Facilitating the mobilisation of resources Prime objective of all action is to minimise the risk of environmental pollution
SCU • Membership: • SOSREP, Independent SOSREP Salvage Adviser • CPSO, Salvage Master, Harbour Master, • Ship owner/insurer representative, • EG Liaison Officer, Specialist Scientific Advisor, Health/Safety Adviser • SCU is NOT a decision making body; decisions remain the responsibility of SOSREP
Marine Response Centre (MRC) • Purpose of MRC is to: • Assess and monitor the situation at sea • Initiate and control dispersant-spraying operations on spilled oil at sea • Initiate and control mechanical recovery options at sea.
MRC • Members: • CPSO • MCA Logistics Officer • Harbour representative, if a harbour is involved • Officer from relevant fisheries department • Local Authority Officer to liaise with the SRC • Environmental Liaison Officer • MCA Public Relations Officer
Shoreline Response Centre (SRC) Purpose of SRC is to co-ordinate and lead the on-shore response • Determine the extent of the problem • Agree a strategy and priorities • Initiate response • Obtain and allocate resources • Determine methods of waste disposal • Monitor progress • Brief elected members, Ministers, VIPs, media
EA / SEPA Natural England / SNH DEFRA / SEERAD MFA / FRS Contractors ITOPF GNN Red Cross St Johns Ambulance Oil Company HMCG / CPB Police SRC Local Authority personnel will be mainly concerned with shoreline clean-up
Where the Environment Group sits Secretary of State Chief Executive MCA Director of Operations MCA SOSREP SCU Salvage operations HMCG Search and Rescue MRC At-sea response operations MCA SRC Shoreline clean-up LA + MCA Environment Group Environmental advice
Environment Group (EG) • Function • To provide advice and guidance on environmental matters to SCU, MRC & SRC • Role is purely advisory • EG has no formal powers (although members may have) • MCA initiates then contacts: • Statutory Nature Conservation Body • Environmental Regulator • Fisheries Department
Environment Group • CORE MEMBERSHIP • Environmental Regulator • Statutory Nature Conservation Body • Fisheries Department • Public Health Officer • Not just for the big incidents • Dependant upon location, nature and scale of the incident • Other organisations may be invited to join EG at the discretion of the chair
Environment Group • The core membership may choose to invite: • Sea Fisheries Committee • National Park Authorities • Local Health Authority • HSE • Health Protection Agency • Animal Welfare bodies - RSPCA, SSPCA • Bird casualty record collation - RSPB • NGOs • Local Wildlife Trusts • Local Animal Welfare Trusts