Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan - SMPEP
The Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan is written in accordance with Annex I - regulation 26 and Annex II - regulation 16 of MARPOL 73/78. The SMPEP manual has all information and steps to be taken by the Master 22422i813w or designated officer in charge when an oil or marine pollution incident has occurred or is likely to occur.
All of the information and step by step instructions contained in the manual are required to be there by the 'Guidelines for the Development of the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan' as developed by the International Maritime Organization and published under MEPC 85 (44) and MEPC 54 (32) amended by MEPC 86 (44).
The plan has been fully approved by the MCA. Apart from section five of the plan, no other part of this plan may be changed without the approval of the MCA Administration. In section five changes do not have to be approved by the MCA Administration, this is because this section is updated whenever contact details of any port have been changed. The owners and the Master should keep this section up to date.
The SMPEP manual consists of five sections with reference from Annex I - regulation 26 and Annex II - regulation 16 of MARPOL 73/78.
Section one clearly indicates the purpose of the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan. The Plan is available to assist the ship's personnel in dealing with an unexpected discharge of oil or NLS. The Plans primary purpose is to give the Master step by step instructions of the necessary actions to be taken to stop or minimize further discharge of those substances and diminish its effects.
Effective planning ensures that the necessary actions are taken in a structured, logical and controlled manner. The primary objectives of this plan are to:
o Prevent pollution
o Stop or minimize outflow when there is damage to the ship
o Stop or minimize outflow when an operational spill occurs in excess of the quantity permitted under the present Convention
Further purpose of this Plan is to provide the Master, officers and certain crew members with a practical guide to prevent oil spills and in carrying out the responsibilities associated with regulation 26 of Annex I and regulation 16 of Annex II of MARPOL 73/78.
o Procedures to report an oil / marine pollution incident
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o Response actions to reduce or control the discharge of substances following an incident
o Co-ordination with national and local Authorities in combating a spill
In summary the plan will give the ship's personnel the appropriate response techniques that should be taken when they are faced with a spill. The plan includes a summary flowchart to guide the Master through reporting and acting procedures required during an oil pollution incident response.
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