Notes prepared by Rahul Gupta (Tyne dock- Class 1 Sets)

Set 8 of 9 Sets

SOPEP (Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan)

Marpol 73/78 (Annex 1) Regulation 16

Applicable to all vessels more than 150 GRT SOMEP (Shipboard Marine Pollution
Emergency Plan) in addition to SOPEP

Purpose

Acts as a practical guide for masters, crew and officers to prevent oil spills and carry out
responsibilities associated with Marpol 73/78 (Annex 1) Regulation 26.
Prevent a pollution
Minimize or stop pollution occurrence during an emergency or ship board operations
Acts as a link between shore and ship

Contents include

Response action to reduce or control the discharge of oil following an incident

Procedures to report an oil spill
List of authorities to contact
Coordination with national and local authorities in combating an oil spill

Under Marpol 73/78 (Annex 1) Regulation 26 it is required for the Master to report to the
nearest coastal state without delay if an incident involves

A discharge above permitted level or a probable discharge of oil / noxious liquid

A discharge during the operation of a vessel in excess of the quantity or instantaneous
discharge rate permitted of oil / noxious liquids
A discharge or probable discharge of harmful substance in packaged form
Damage failure or breakdown of vessel involving the following Collision / grounding
Structural failure
Fire / explosion
Cargo shift
Propulsion plant / steering system

Action in the case of an oil spill

Assessment of nature of incident

Actions Alert crew
Identify spill
Spill assessment

1. When to report Probable or actual spill

2. Who to report-

3. How to report By quickest means to

Nearest CRS
Local authorities

Notes prepared by Rahul Gupta (Tyne dock- Class 1 Sets)

Ship Owner / Manager

Charterer
Cargo Owner
P&I
Nearest coastal state harbor
Terminal operators

Set 8 of 9 Sets

RCC (rescue coordination centre) or

Designated ship movement reporting
system

4. What to report
Initial report
Following report
Steps to initiate external response Characteristics of oil spilled
Refer to Coastal Port State listings for Cargo / ballast / bunker disposition
local assistance
Weather and sea conditions
Refer to ship interest contact list
Direction of slick
External clean up required
Type of assistance required
Continued monitoring of activities

Navigational measures

Alter course and speed

Changing the list or trim
Anchoring
Setting aground
Assess weather conditions
Slick monitoring
Communication
Recording of events

Seamanship measures

Safety assessment and precautions

Advice on important counter measures
and prevention
Damage stability and stress
Trimming / listing ballasting deballasting
Internal cargo transfer
Ship to ship transfer
Shipboard response Sealing of leak
Use and handling of SOPEP
equipment
Fire fighting

Three main causes of pollution

Collision, fire, explosion or grounding

Intentional discharge
Accidental pollution

Reporting requirements for vessels carrying Dangerous and Polluting Good Regulations in the
event of the following incidents

A discharge or probability of discharge of oil or noxious liquid substances above the

permitted level
A discharge of dangerous goods or harmful substances in packaged form
Failure or breakdown of the vessel or that affects the safety of the vessel such as collision,
grounding, fire, explosion etc.
Discharge above the permitted level during the operation of a vessel

Following factors should be taken into account when deciding probability of discharge

Nature of the damage, failure of break down of ship machinery / equipment

Sea, wind state, traffic density in the area at the time of incident

Notes prepared by Rahul Gupta (Tyne dock- Class 1 Sets)

Set 8 of 9 Sets

MGN 242 or A 851 (20)

Various types of report Sailing Plan (SP)
Position Report (PR)
Deviation Report (DR)
Final Report (FR)

Dangerous Good (DG)

Harmful Substance (HS)
Marine Pollutants (MP)

Action in the event of discharge of oil by a crude oil tanker from the engine room in mid sea

In the event of any oil spill the Master must carefully follow instructions contained in
the SOPEP or VRP (Vessel Response Plan)
Call up the engine room and instruct them to shut down all discharge operations, close all
overboard valves
Prepare and send HS report to the nearest coastal state
Instruct the Chief Engineer to make an investigation to establish the facts of the incident
Inform the following Owners
Charterers
External clean up
Statutory reports to the MAIB
Relevant entries in the Oil Record Book
The pollution should be recorded as a Non Conformity in the vessels ISM documentation

Action in the event of pollution during bunkering operations

Stop all bunker operations, minimize the pollution and contain the spill on board
Inform the following Owners
Port authorities
Agent
Local P&I correspondents
Obtain samples of oil
Establish the facts and write a full report in coordination with Chief Engineer on the
occurrence stating all the efforts taken by the ships crew to minimize the spillage before
the investigators arrive
Together with the officers and crew work closely with the local authorities