NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS

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4.    SETTING UP THE NATIONAL RESPONSE UNITS
4.1    In managing the counter pollution response to an incident, the hierarchy of aims is:

• first, to prevent pollution occurring;
• second, to minimise the extent of any pollution that occurs;
• third, to mitigate the effects of that pollution.

4.2    Separate, but linked, response units direct operations.  There may be units to control salvage operations (the Salvage Control Unit (SCU)), action at sea (the Marine Response Centre (MRC)), action in the area of each harbour authority involved, and action on shore (the Shoreline Response Centre (SRC)).  An Environment Group provides environmental and public health advice to all of these units.  Not all incidents require all these response units.  However, the arrangements for managing the incident must allow for the possibility of salvage operations, action at sea and action on shore taking place simultaneously.

4.3    In some cases the SCU may be co-located with the MRC with SOSREP taking control of the salvage operation, and the at sea counter pollution operations under the control of the Head of Counter Pollution and Response Branch (CPR) or the Deputy Director of Operations.

4.4    In the case of an incident involving an offshore installation, an Operations Control Unit (OCU) is established to monitor operations to contain any potential pollution within the installation and its reservoir.  The Unit only assumes control, if and when, SOSREP issues a direction.

4.5    The accommodation for each unit should have sufficient telephone lines to enable full liaison with outside bodies.  Photocopier, fax and e-mail facilities are essential, although noisy equipment should be located in a separate room.  Fixed VHF equipment would be desirable.  Television, DVD and video facilities are extremely useful for playing back recordings from aircraft and helicopters, as well as monitoring local and national coverage of the incident.  Wall space to display charts and situation boards is essential.  

4.6    Those holding responsibility for keeping the situation boards continuously updated should be aware that their objective is to present a summary of the current situation and response actions being taken.  A well-prepared set of situation boards and annotated charts greatly assists the preparation of:

• press briefing notes;
• briefing for Ministers and elected representatives; and
• briefing for incoming relief staff.

4.7    Each of the units need support from an Administration Team responsible for the general management of the unit and providing personnel for:

• communication links between the units;
• the distribution of messages within the units;
• keeping records of messages and expenditure;
• taking minutes during meetings to record decisions;
• typing services;
• updating situation boards and charts; and
• providing catering to the units.

4.8    The relevant MCA RCC acts as a communications hub and provides communication support for all response centres.

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