SOPEP - Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
In our world of ever-increasing demand for power
oil is continuously feedings the powerhouse ocean tankers are the most
economical and convenient mode of transport of oil and very more than 75
percent of the world's oil requirement move tankers are efficiently run with
the ships gas well aware of their duties and responsibilities not only during
normal operation but also during emergencies however it is only when
disaster strikes that the emergency preparedness of a tanker is tested to
its limit
is this your ship or would you rather this is your ship
in order to provide coming to the master and officers on board the ship with
respect to the steps to be taken when an oil pollution incidents occur or is
likely to occur the shipboard pollution emergency plan or software was developed
sub M is compiled in accordance with regulation 23 of annex one of the
International Convention for the Prevention of pollution
dropships generally referred to as the Marple 7378 convention and it's made in
the working language of the master and the vessel through the primary the plan
is to set in motion the necessary action dot all minimize the discharge of
pollutants and humidity is respected it was to provide the procedures to be
followed by the master or persons in charge of the ship the report and oil
pollution incident and lists we authorities or persons to be contacted
in such an event as per the guidelines provided by the IMO all oil tankers of
150 tons cross tonnage and above and every ship other than an oil tanker of
400 gross tonnage and above shall carry onboard the so kept approved by the
administration in the case of ships like chemical tankers to which regulations 16
of annex 2 of convention also applies the so kept is combined with a plan
dealing with pollution due to noxious liquids and it's called the shipboard
marine pollution emergency plan or SM PEP
barely a year after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill the US government
bought the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990
requiring among other things that the oil industry take greatest caution
against still and the fair retail emergency response plan for cleaning up
spills that may occur for all ships trading in the USA the ship owner needs
to prepare a vessel response plan or a VRP as per the guidelines provided under
the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990 the owner is also required to have a
contract with an approved qualified individual Qi to assist in the
coordination of Shore response at the time of an oil spill before we see the
ship staff fighting the oil spill let us turn the clock back to students that a
tanker goes through our go operation emergency stop for cargo pumps and
cargoes and high level along board are secured oil pollution prevention
equipment is arranged in the manifold area energy driven pumps are earth and
kept ready for immediate use contingency plan is discussed in the pre arrival
safety meeting the oil pollution prevention equipment which is normally
stored in the so pet Locker consists forced disposable boiler to safety see
boots absorbent pads portable boom buckets shovels brooms saga and chemical
dispersants oil booms are usually rigged around the vessel in port by port
authorities to restrict the area affected in case of pollution in the
event of an oil spill a general alarm is raised all cargo pumps are stopped and
manifolds and tank valves closed under the guidance of the master the oil spill
is contained and cleanup operations put into action the equipment is put into
readiness portable pneumatic pumps may be put into use to divert the oil on
deck to slop tanks the coastal state authorities are immediately notified and
a designated person ashore is contacted and briefed for Shore coordination in
the United States of America the qualified individual is contacted in an
emergency situation it is imperative that all damage control operations are
coordinated smoothly for maximum efficiency so that drills and desktop
Emergency Response exercises should be regularly performed on ship regular
exercisers ensure that plans are still valid and our staff are familiar with
both the plans and their own rules
here is a preview of the salient features of a desktop exercise where the
ship's personnel take up the role of all the important players in an emergency
situation oh you guys we will see respond scheme of this serving company
one of our ankles directly non-touch an emergency response team one this is a
qualified individual your message well understood
emergency response team in charge this is the last Community College we have
completed an assessment of the situation emergency response team assistance and
investigation accidents all still and hazardous substances spills involving
substantial damage to personnel or natural resources are matters of broad
latitude significant needs or exclude dick Euler provide dramatic and
upsetting curve and the new media will look for scapegoats to further their own
interest it is therefore of great importance that the ship's staff does
not get intimidated or over react to the barrage of questions put up to them the
way of handling oppressed inquiry in an emergency can have a great impact on how
well the public reacts to the situation and it can substantially affect how they
view the company the first contact with the media after
any incident is therefore crucial and must be carefully prepared the owners
will appoint a spokesperson to handle the news media or shift staff should
stay away from shore personnel and media and no statements or speculations should
be issued the master shall handle the situation with great caution and
redirect all queries to the office
professional seafarers we must remain aware of the fact that a ship
constitutes a potential threat to the marine environment it is only to regular
grooves and proper training that we can reduce accidents and minimize their
harmful consequences and give our future generation a clean earth
you