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Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans

Shipping Notice: CISN 01/1995

Published 16th February 1998, 3:59pm

Printable Version

To: Owners, Operators, Managers and Masters of Cayman Registered Vessels

  1. It is a statutory requirement under MARPOL 73/78 that, effective 04 April 1995, every oil tanker of 150 gross tonnage and above and every ship other than an oil tanker (including pleasure craft) of 400 gross tonnage and above shall carry on board a Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) approved by the Flag Administration and that the Plan be in accordance with guidelines developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

    2. The applicable legislation is Regulation 26 of Annex 1 of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to this notice.

    A copy of the IMO 'Guidelines for the Development of Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans' may be obtained from the International Maritime Organisation, Publications Section, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom, Fax No. 171 587 3210.

  2. Regulation 26 also requires that the SOPEP includes a list of coastal states and relevant contact points for use in the event of a pollution incident. The initial point of contact in the event of a pollution incident in the waters of the Cayman Islands is the Cayman Islands Fire Service (that also acts as an out of hours emergency contact for this office). Contact details are as follows:

    • Telephone Numbers: (345) 949 0077 or (345) 949 2499 or (345) 949 2276

    • Marine VHF Radio: Channel 16, Call Sign "Grand Cayman Fire Control"

    • Single Side Band Radio: 2182 MHz, Call Sign "Grand Cayman"

  3. Where arrangements for the preparation and submission of a SOPEP are required, as in the case of a new vessel, then action should be taken without delay to prepare and forward to the CISR a copy of the SOPEP for the vessel concerned. The document should be forwarded to the address at the head of this notice for review and subsequent approval. When approved, one copy of the SOPEP will be retained in this office and appropriate copies of “Approved” cover pages returned to the owner/operator of the vessel, one of which should be placed in the manual on board the vessel to which it relates and another retained ashore by the owner/operator.

APPENDIX 1

(TO CAYMAN ISLANDS SHIPPING NOTICE NO. 01/95)

Annex I of MARPOL 73/78

Chapter IV

Prevention of pollution arising from an oil pollution incident

Regulation 26

Shipboard oil pollution emergency plan

  1. Every oil tanker of 150 gross tonnage and above and every ship other than an oil tanker of 400 gross tonnage and above shall carry on board a shipboard oil emergency pollution plan approved by the Administration. In the case of ships built before 04 April 1993 this requirement shall apply 24 months after that date.

  2. Such a plan shall be in accordance with guidelines developed by the Organization and written in the working language of the master and officers. The plan shall consist at least of:

    • the procedure to be followed by the master or other persons having charge of the ship to report an oil pollution incident, as required in Article 8 and Protocol 1 of the present Convention, based on the guidelines developed by the Organization;*

    • the list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of an oil pollution incident;

    • a detailed description of the action to be taken immediately by persons on board to reduce or control the discharge of oil following the incident; and

    • the procedures and point of contact on the ship for co-ordinating shipboard action with national and local authorities in combating the pollution.

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* Refer to "General principles for ship reporting systems and ship reporting requirements, including guidelines for reporting incidents involving dangerous goods, harmful substances and/or marine pollutants" adopted by the Organization by Resolution A.648(16).

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