THE UNITED KINGDOMS RESPONSE TO SALVAGE AND MARINE POLLUTION

Recent Developments within the past three years in the UK:

• The birth of a single Government Agency, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), to address all aspects of marine regulation and incident response.
• The introduction of a Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP).
• Development of Government owned / operated response capability.
• Development of pro-active state intervention into maritime incidents and salvage.
• The introduction of a new National Contingency Plan.

The introduction of new state powers of intervention for the offshore oil and gas industry.