International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-Operation, 1990

 

ARTICLE 6

National and regional systems for preparedness and response

(1) Each Party shall establish a national system for responding promptly
and effectively to oil pollution incidents. This system shall include as
a minimum:

(a) the designation of:

(i) the competent national authority or authorities with
responsibility for oil pollution preparedness and response;

(ii) the national operational contact point or points, which shall
be responsible for the receipt and transmission of oil
pollution reports as referred to in article 4; and

(iii) an authority which is entitled to act on behalf of the State
to request assistance or to decide to render the assistance
requested;

(b) a national contingency plan for preparedness and response which
includes the organizational relationship of the various bodies
involved, whether public or private, taking into account guidelines
developed by the Organization.

(2) In addition, each Party, within its capabilities either individually
or through bilateral or multilateral co-operation and, as appropriate, in
co-operation with the oil and shipping industries, port authorities and
other relevant entities, shall establish:

(a) a minimum level of pre-positioned oil spill combating equipment,
commensurate with the risk involved, and programmes for its use;

(b) a programme of exercises for oil pollution response organizations
and training of relevant personnel;

(c) detailed plans and communication capabilities for responding to an
oil pollution incident. Such capabilities should be continuously
available; and

(d) a mechanism or arrangement to co-ordinate the response to an oil
pollution incident with, if appropriate, the capabilities to
mobilize the necessary resources.

(3) Each Party shall ensure that current information is provided to the
Organization, directly or through the relevant regional organization or
arrangements, concerning:

(a) the location, telecommunication data and, if applicable, areas of
responsibility of authorities and entities referred to in paragraph
(1)(a);

(b) information concerning pollution response equipment and expertise
in disciplines related to oil pollution response and marine salvage
which may be made available to other States, upon request; and

(c) its national contingency plan.

ARTICLE 7

International co-operation in pollution response

(1) Parties agree that, subject to their capabilities and the
availability of relevant resources, they will co-operate and provide
advisory services, technical support and equipment for the purpose of
responding to an oil pollution incident, when the severity of such
incident so justifies, upon the request of any Party affected or likely
to be affected. The financing of the costs for such assistance shall be
based on the provisions set out in the Annex to this Convention.

(2) A Party which has requested assistance may ask the Organization to
assist in identifying sources of provisional financing of the costs
referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) In accordance with applicable international agreements, each Party
shall take necessary legal or administrative measures to facilitate:

(a) the arrival and utilization in and departure from its territory of
ships, aircraft and other modes of transport engaged in responding
to an oil pollution incident or transporting personnel, cargoes,
materials and equipment required to deal with such an incident; and

(b) the expeditious movement into, through, and out of its territory of
personnel, cargoes, materials and equipment referred to in
subparagraph (a).

ARTICLE 8

Research and development

(1) Parties agree to co-operate directly or, as appropriate, through the
Organization or relevant regional organizations or arrangements in the
promotion and exchange of results of research and development programmes
relating to the enhancement of the state-of-the-art of oil pollution
preparedness and response, including technologies and techniques for
surveillance, containment, recovery, dispersion, clean-up and otherwise
minimizing or mitigating the effects of oil pollution, and for
restoration.

(2) To this end, Parties undertake to establish directly or, as
appropriate, through the Organization or relevant regional organizations
or arrangements, the necessary links between Parties’ research
institutions.

(3) Parties agree to co-operate directly or through the Organization or
relevant regional organizations or arrangements to promote, as
appropriate, the holding on a regular basis of international symposia on
relevant subjects, including technological advances in oil pollution
combating techniques and equipment.

(4) Parties agree to encourage, through the Organization or other
competent International Organizations , the development of standards for
compatible oil pollution combating techniques and equipment.

ARTICLE 9

Technical co-operation

(1) Parties undertake directly or through the Organization and other
international bodies, as appropriate, in respect of oil pollution
preparedness and response, to provide support for those Parties which
request technical assistance:

(a) to train personnel;

(b) to ensure the availability of relevant technology, equipment and
facilities;

(c) to facilitate other measures and arrangements to prepare for and
respond to oil pollution incidents; and

(d) to initiate joint research and development programmes.

(2) Parties undertake to co-operate actively, subject to their national
laws, regulations and policies, in the transfer of technology in respect
of oil pollution preparedness and response.

ARTICLE 10

Promotion of bilateral and multilateral co-operation
in preparedness and response

Parties shall endeavour to conclude bilateral or multilateral
agreements for oil pollution preparedness and response. Copies of such
agreements shall be communicated to the Organization which should make
them available on request to Parties.

ARTICLE 11

Relation to other conventions and international agreements

Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as altering the rights
or obligations of any Party under any other convention or international
agreement.

 

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-Operation, 1990, International Organizations.