Organisation of oil spill response in the UK

Phases of incident response

Search and Rescue

Salvage

At Sea Response

Shoreline Clean - Up

Who is involved and who does what ? HMCG Her Majesty’s Coast GuardHMCG Her Majesty’s Coast Guard CPSO Counter Pollution & Salvage OfficerCPSO Counter Pollution & Salvage Officer SOSREP – Secretary of State’s RepresentativeSOSREP – Secretary of State’s Representative SCU – Salvage Control UnitSCU – Salvage Control Unit MRC – Marine Response CentreMRC – Marine Response Centre SRC – Shoreline Response CentreSRC – Shoreline Response Centre EG – Environment GroupEG – Environment Group

Command and control Director of Operations MCA HMCG Search and Rescue MRC At-sea response operations MCA SOSREP SCU Salvage operations SRC Shoreline clean-up LA + MCA Environment Group Environmental advice Secretary of State Chief Executive MCA

HMCG SOSREP SCU MRC SRC EG

UK oil spill response Each unit has a specific roleEach unit has a specific role Some units make decisions and initiate actionsSome units make decisions and initiate actions Some units have statutory powers, some do notSome units have statutory powers, some do not Some provide advice to other unitsSome 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 seaHMCG is most often the first organisation notified of an oil spill at sea SAR Search and RescueSAR Search and Rescue In support of oil spill response: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, etc.

Duty CPSO Make assessment of incident and assume responsibility for CP & S implications of incidentMake 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 modelling –notify the MCA Media Team

SOSREP SOSREPSOSREP –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 DirectionsPowers 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 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)Powers to establish Temporary Exclusion Zone (TEZ)

HMCG SOSREP SCU MRC SRC EG

SCU (Salvage Control Unit) SCU (Salvage Control Unit) Purpose of SCU is to support SOSREP by: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 (Salvage Control Unit) SCU (Salvage Control Unit) Membership:Membership: –SOSREP, Independent SOSREP Salvage Adviser –CPSO, Salvage Manager, Harbour Master, –Ship owner/insurer representative, –EG Liaison Officer, Specialist Scientific, Health/Safety Adviser SCU is NOT a decision making body; decisions remain the responsibility of SOSREP

MRC (Marine Response Centre) MRC (Marine Response Centre) Purpose of MRC is to: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 –Initiate and control cargo transfer operations

MRC (Marine Response Centre) MRC (Marine Response Centre) Members:Members: –CPSO –MCA Officer to manage cargo transfer op’s –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

SRC (Shoreline Response Centre) SRC (Shoreline Response Centre) Purpose of SRC is to co-ordinate and lead the on-shore responsePurpose of SRC is to co-ordinate and lead the on-shore response Determine the extent of the problemDetermine the extent of the problem Agree a strategy and prioritiesAgree a strategy and priorities Initiate responseInitiate response Obtain and allocate resourcesObtain and allocate resources Determine methods of waste disposalDetermine methods of waste disposal Monitor progressMonitor progress Brief elected members, Ministers, VIPs, mediaBrief elected members, Ministers, VIPs, media

SRC (Shoreline Response Centre)  Env Agency  CCW  Defra  MFA  Contractors  ITOPF  UKPIA  UKOOA  GNN  Red Cross  St Johns Ambulance  Oil Company  HMCG / CPB  Police Local Authority personnel will be mainly concerned with shoreline clean-up

Environment Group (EG) Environment Group (EG) FunctionFunction –To provide advice and guidance on environmental matters to SCU, MRC & SRC Role is purely advisoryRole is purely advisory –EG has no formal powers (although members may have) MCA initiates then contacts:MCA initiates then contacts: –Statutory Nature Conservation Body –Environmental Regulator –Fisheries Department

Environment Group (EG) Environment Group (EG) CORE MEMBERSHIPCORE MEMBERSHIP –Environmental Regulator –Statutory Nature Conservation Body –Fisheries Department –Public Health Officer –MCA Dependant upon location, nature and scale of the incidentDependant upon location, nature and scale of the incident Other organisations may be invited to join EG at the discretion of the chairOther organisations may be invited to join EG at the discretion of the chair

Environment Group (EG) Environment Group (EG) The core membership may choose to invite: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 USPCA –Bird casualty record collation - RSPB –NGO’s –Local Wildlife Trusts –Local Animal Welfare Trusts –Oil Company - through IPIECA - expertise and facilities

HMCG SOSREP SCU MRC SRC EG