Chapter 1: Prevention of Pollution by Oil (Part IIA)

Chadux̂ is a non-profit organization governed by industry representatives and funded by participating vessel owner/operators that provides vessels operating in Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic with best management practices and response capabilities. Chadux̂ has over 500 vessel companies from around the world representing over 4,500 vessels enrolled in its programs.

Chadux̂ provides access to over 17 oil spill response resource caches throughout Western Alaska and the Arctic. By enrolling in the Chadux̂ program vessel operators gain access to the largest inventory of oil spill response equipment available in the U.S. Arctic. Enrollment and response agreements have been determined to conform to contractual provisions by the International Group of P&I Clubs. For information on enrolling in the Chadux̂ and gaining access to this unparalleled response resource inventory click here.

Hyperlink: https://www.genice.ca/home

AINA is a partner in a 4 year project - GENICE - which is to address the need to develop preparedness and response strategies for fuel spills in Arctic waters. The project brings together a broadly interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral team to combine cutting-edge genomics, analytical chemistry, and sea-ice geophysics with economic, policy and end-user expertise to focus on the role of and potential for bioremediation of fuel spills in the Arctic marine environment. The overarching objectives of the project are to generate baseline microbial genomics data for the Hudson Bay Corridor, conduct a series of bioremediation viability case studies, develop recommendations on technology-based emergency spill response strategies, and define best practices for knowledge sharing, capacity building for spill-response, and policy development; each of these objectives is informed by genomics.

This work is relevant to the Polar Code Part IIA: Pollution Prevention Measures Chapter 1. Prevention of Pollution by Oil in particular and outcomes could potentially be used to support decision making with respect to response to incidents and counter-pollution activities such as oil pollution combating strategies, spill response, pollution prevention equipment for ships, and shipping route designation.

Hyperlink: IMO Polar Code
Follow this link for DNV GL’s guide to the Polar Code Document ‘Maritime Polar Code: Understand the Code’s requirements to take the right steps for smooth compliance’. For Part IIA, Chapter 1, see page 30.

See also:

• IMO Polar Code on the DNV GL website
• Arctic shipping risk assessment and winterisation

Hyperlink: http://nsidc.org/noaa/iicwg/
For Arctic shipping, the website of the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG) most importantly provides contact information for all of the national ice services in the world, including 24/7 emergency access to ice information. Additionally, the site provides information about IICWG activities, summaries and presentations from annual IICWG meetings, documents on standards, and links to other ice information sites.

IICWH website

Hyperlink 1: Bonn Publications
Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual
Over the years, the Bonn Agreement has adopted a number of decisions to facilitate joint operations to combat pollution or to put the Bonn Agreement into practice. These decisions and other practical information are contained in the Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual. This Manual, which is regularly updated, comprises three volumes: Volume 1 on information needed for counter-pollution operations, Volume 2 containing general reference material concerning the policy/strategy of pollution combating and Volume 3 on the administration related to incidents.

The Bonn Agreement technical working group OTSOPA keeps the Manual under review to ensure that best available technologies are being used.

• Counter Pollution Manual
• Record of revisions to the Counter Pollution Manual
• Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual (3 MB)
• Manuel Accord de Bonn de lutte contre la pollution (3 MB)
  

Hyperlink 2: Bonn Projects
To facilitate the work of the Contracting Parties in preventing, and responding to, pollution incidents in the North Sea, The Bonn Agreement is involved in projects which further it’s operational and strategic aims. BE-AWARE I and BE-AWARE II produced the first area-wide risk assessments of marine pollution in the North Sea and the potential impacts of a pollution incident. HNS-MS, ARCOPOL, MARINIER and MARPOCS are related, but external projects intended to aid in the preparedness and response capability to Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spills.

Inside Projects

• BE-AWARE I: The BE-AWARE project was a two year initiative (2012-2014), co-financed by the European Union, which aimed to quantitively identify the risk and magnitude of mineral oils spills, in the Bonn Agreement area and undertake a qualitative risk assessment for hazardous and noxious substances.
• BE-AWARE II: BE-AWARE II was a two year initiative (2013-2015), also co-financed by the European Union, which aimed to utilise the results of BE-AWARE I to model the effects of 10 risk reducing and response scenarios through a combination of oil spill modelling and environmental and socioeconomic sensitivity analysis. Therefore identifying sub regional risk management conclusions for 2020.
• HNS-MS project: The HNS-MS Project (2015-2016) is a 2-year project on a decision support tool for Harmful and Noxious Substances (HNS).
• ARCOPOL: The ARCOPOL projects ran between 2009 - 2015 with an aim to reinforce the preparedness and response to both oil and HNS spills in the Atlantic regions.
• MARINER: THe project ran from 2016 - 2017 and builds on the ARCOPOL projects and focuses on improving planning, preparedness and response to HNS spills.
• MARPOCS: The project, active between 2016 - 2017 in an Atlantic sub-region, works towards an integrated framework for preparedness and response to oil and HNS spills.

Hyperlink 3: North Sea Manual on Maritime Oil Pollution Offences
The manual describes the authorities and procedures involved in prosecuting discharge offences at sea focusing on the international aspects and practice in Bonn Agreement countries. (January 2010 English only).

Hyperlink 4: Response to Incidents
Despite efforts to increase maritime safety there will always be the risk of incidents. With a combination of growing levels of maritime transportation and the expansion of other human activities, such as renewable energy development, the risks for the marine environment increase. Contracting Parties therefore aim to improve their joint response to incidents, based on risk assessments, ensuring counter-pollution activities are executed with the best available techniques and equipment.

• Counter Pollution Manual: One of the Bonn Agreement's major aims is to facilitate cooperation between the Contracting Parties in response to large maritime disasters and other emergencies. To ensure that cooperation is effective and efficient, common understanding is needed on many issues such as command structures, communications, organisation and claims management. To ensure this common understanding, these issues have been outlined in the Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual.
• Oil Pollution Combating Strategy: The overall strategy for combatting spills is outlined in Chapter 22 of the Counter Pollution Manual (CPM), including combatting oil at sea, on shore and in estuaries, and outlines the approaches to be taken. The CPM also contains detailed advice on Command Structure (Chapter 2), Radio Communications (Chapter 3), Organisational issues (Chapter 30) and Reimbursement (Chapter 33) all of which are key to successful joint operations to combat oil spills.
• Sub-regional response plans: The Bonn Agreement also includes several Joint Zones of Responsibility for response to incidents. For some of these joint zones there are also sub-regional response plans such as the DenGerNeth Plan covering Denmark, Netherlands and German response zones, the Mancheplan covering the Channel waters between France and the UK and the NorBrit Plan covering the offshore zone between the UK and Norway.
• European Union: The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) also supports Bonn Agreement countries with complementary operational services namely a satellite based oil spill monitoring and surveillance service (CleanSeaNet), a network of stand-by oil spill response vessels for at-sea oil recovery and a chemical (HNS) specific information service (Mar-ice).

ITOPF has responded to approximately 800 shipping incidents involving crude oil spilt from tankers, as well as bunker fuel, chemicals and bulk cargoes from all types of ships worldwide. Our highly skilled international team are ready to assist 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide objective technical advice on clean-up measures as well as environmental and economic effects.

As a not-for-profit organisation, we have devoted efforts to developing a wide range of technical services to promote effective response to ship source pollution incidents since our creation in 1968. Our five key services are spill response, claims analysis & damage assessment, contingency planning, training and education as well as information.

Our services are provided to our Members (tanker owners) or Associates (other shipowners) and their P&I insurers. We offer also our services at the request of governments and intergovernmental organisations such as the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds).

Our London based team of 35, 15 of whom are available to respond to spills, combined with almost 50 years’ experience, is what makes us truly unique. We are also an advisory service to ensure operators are prepared for emergency situations, including ensuring the information required if an incident occurs can be readily available.

For Essential Information, Additional Useful Information and EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION that will be required In the event of a spill of oil or hazardous and noxious substance, please use the following link: http://www.itopf.com/in-action/emergency-protocol/

For advice in relation to your contingency planning, and for preparing for Polar operations please contact us using the following link: http://www.itopf.com/contact/

For guidance on Arctic and Cold Climates please see this link: http://www.itopf.com/knowledge-resources/documents-guides/arctic-cold-climates/

Please also see our Film ‘Oil Spills in Cold Climates’ - http://www.itopf.com/knowledge-resources/library/video-library/video/8oil-spills-in-cold-climates/

Hyperlink 1: The Polar Code: A Regulatory Interpretation Guide
This document provides Loyd's Register guidance on all aspects of the Polar Code (chapter by chapter). For Part IIA Chapter 1, see pages 81 to 82.

Hyperlink 2: Meeting the Polar Code on 1 January 2017: Guidance for Existing Ships (Part IIA)
This document includes information on what steps operators need to take to ensure compliance when operating in polar waters on or after 1 January 2017, when the Polar Code entered into force.

Lloyd's website

Hyperlink: https://cgmix.uscg.mil/MARPOL/Default.aspx
The purpose of the Coast Guard Maritime Information Exchange (CGMIX) website is to make Coast Guard maritime information available on the public internet in the form of searchable databases. For Ships Operating in the US Arctic and Near Arctic the CGMIX Public Database includes a link to MARPOL Servicing Facilities.

This online searchable database contains a listing of all U.S. Ports and Terminals holding valid MARPOL Certificates of Adequacy (COAs). Ships operating in the Arctic are subject to additional restrictions relating to discharges of Annex I Oil/Oily residue, Annex II Noxious Liquid Substances, Annex V Garbage including food waste, and Annex VI Ozone Depleting Substances and Stack Scrubber residues. U.S. Ports and Terminals are issued Certificates of Adequacy (COAs) as evidence that their facilities meet the requirements of Annexes I, II, and V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Adequate port reception facilities (PRF) at Arctic and near Arctic ports and terminals are meant to ensure ships can comply with enhanced restrictions on discharges from ships to the sea outlined in the Polar Code. US MARPOL regulations are further detailed in 33 CFR Part158. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/33cfr158_06.html

Additional resources include: -The World Port Index published by the (US) National Geospatial Agency which provides Marine Safety Information on ports and terminals around the world. This publication gives the location, characteristics, known facilities, and available services of a great many ports and shipping facilities and oil terminals throughout the world and can be downloaded as a PDF document. The data is arranged geographically and is keyed to the applicable Volume of the Sailing Directions and shown on a chart. https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/WPI

The IMO's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) which includes databases on pollution prevention equipment for ships and MARPOL port reception facilities. The public, searchable databases are arranged by Member States (including all eight Arctic Council states) and provide contact information for ports and terminals including those in Arctic regions. Information on ships waste management in the form of IMO Guidance can be downloaded from the website for ships and PRF operators. The guidance while not specific to Arctic shipping will be useful for ship operators planning on voyaging in Arctic or near Arctic waters. (MEPC.1/Circ.834.Rev.1) in English, French and Spanish. GISIS Data Base: https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Default.aspx

Guidance (Free Download from the GISIS site): https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Shared/Public/Download.aspx?FileType=UnsecuredFile&FileCode=PRF-GUIDE

Hyperlink: https://www.ust.is/the-environment-agency-of-iceland/
The Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. It's role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods. The Agency is responsible for implementing the MARPOL convention.

Hyperlink: https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=12793#.X7aDi2j0n4Q
The Manual on the WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WMO No. 485) is designed to ensure uniformity and standardization of data, information and production practices, procedures and specifications employed among WMO Members in the operation of the WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS).

Some WIPPS Designated Centres (WIPPS-DC), also referred to as Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs), address general marine meteorological services and marine emergency response (MER) - including support for Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations.

Hyperlink: www.rina.org.uk/hres/de%2054_inf_5.pdf
The issues and risk of oil discharges to sea from oil lubricated propeller shafts. Considering the IMO Arctic as defined under the Polar Code is 0 discharge re oil and oily mixtures we believe that this should be address and that there are easy cost-effective mechanisms to address this.
There are now several suppliers of sea water-based systems for stern tube lubrication and we believe this should be recommended in order to meet the standards as required in the Polar Code IIA Chapter 1

Please see the attached DNV report, the relevant parts are on page 1 and page 16.