NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS

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6.    AT SEA RESPONSE
Associated with Appendix H (Counter Pollution Operations at Sea)

Marine Response Centre
6.1    In almost all cases involving a national response, whether ship or offshore installation related, MCA establishes a Marine Response Centre (MRC) at the nearest RCC, or suitably equipped port operations room.  Depending on the complexity of the salvage operation it may be co-located near the SCU.  When a separate MRC is established the Deputy Director of Operations or the Head of CPR takes control of it as soon as they arrive at the scene.  Until then, the counter pollution and salvage officer has control of the MRC.  It contains the following persons, although some of MCA staff may play more than one role:

• a CPSO or Counter Pollution Officer⁵, to manage sea borne and air borne operations;
• where a ship is involved, an MCA officer to manage cargo transfer operations;
• a MCA Logistics Officer, to organise the deployment of the equipment needed and control all MCA financial commitments;
• if the incident involves a harbour or its services, a representative of the harbour authority;
• an officer of the relevant fisheries department, to advise on the impact on fisheries and to liaise with fishing organisations.  Where the relevant fisheries department is part of the Scottish Executive, or is the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, this officer also acts as liaison officer with the devolved administration.  If the incident involves waters designated under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the MRC also contains a liaison officer nominated by, or on behalf of, the relevant Assembly Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales;
• a local authority officer (or, in Northern Ireland, an officer of the EHS), to act as liaison with the Shoreline Response Centre;
• an Environmental Liaison Officer (ELO) nominated by the Chair of the Environment Group; and
• an MCA Public Relations Officer, to liaise with the DfT Press Office and the media.

6.2    The Deputy Director of Operations or Head of CPR nominates other members of MCA Counter Pollution Branch staff to assist in the response.

Options for the clean up operation
6.3    The nominated Head of the MRC (subject to any instructions from SOSREP in a salvage operation) decides on actions to contain, disperse, or neutralise pollutants, and to remove potential pollutants from the scene.  These decisions include the following methods of response:

• assess and monitor;
• dispersant spraying operations;
• mechanical recovery operations; and
• cargo transfer operations.

The aim of any clean up operation is to minimise the damage (environmental, ecological, amenity or financial) that the spill would cause.  The MRC decides between the options for clean up bearing in mind the following:

• the limitations on the effectiveness of at sea clean up techniques;
• the distance from shore of the casualty;
• the type of spill;
• the weather conditions and currents;
• the time needed to deploy resources to the scene.

6.5    Appendix H outlines counter pollution procedures.

Dispersant spraying
6.6    The manufacture and use of dispersants and other oil treatment products is subject to regulation.  Details of the controls are at Appendix I.

Introduction of fishing restrictions
6.7    Under Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA), Departments or Agencies with food safety responsibilities can prohibit the taking of fish and edible plants from a designated sea area.  They may do this when the consumption of contaminated food from that area could present a health risk to consumers.  They may therefore restrict fishing, on a precautionary basis, if resources are, or are likely to become, contaminated.

6.8    Under Regulation 7 of the Food Safety (Fishery Products and Live Shellfish) (Hygiene) Regulations 1998 Local Food Authorities can issue a Temporary Prohibition Order if it is satisfied that the consumption of live bivalve mollusks or other shellfish (echinoderms, tunicates or marine gastropods) taken from a designated shellfish harvesting area (including a relaying area) is likely to cause a public health risk.  The Temporary Prohibition Order shall prohibit the placing on the market or the gathering of any such mollusks or other shellfish from the specified area.

6.9    The Food Authority is usually the Environmental Health Department of the Local Authority or the Port Authority.  A Temporary Prohibition Order may be made for a period of 28 days and may not be extended beyond that time unless Ministers or designated officials give their consent.

Termination of FEPA orders
6.10    FEPA orders can last until such time as it can be shown that there are no food safety issues.  Once it is felt that restrictions can be lifted this is done through a revocation order.  The revocation order might lift all restrictions or lift only some restrictions depending upon the circumstances.

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