Answer
“OPRC 1990 is the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation. Its objective is to ensure that ships and States are prepared to respond to oil pollution incidents and to provide international cooperation where required. It requires national contingency arrangements, pollution reporting, response equipment, training and exercises. Ships covered by the Convention are required to have an approved oil-pollution emergency plan, normally the SOPEP.”
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 — OPRC 1990.
Adopted: 30 November 1990
Entered into force: 13 May 1995.
The basic purpose is to create an international framework so that ships, offshore units, ports and coastal States are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to oil-pollution incidents, and countries can cooperate and provide assistance to each other during a major spill.
Main requirements: A Party to OPRC must establish:
- a national system for responding to oil-pollution incidents;
- a designated competent national authority;
- national operational contact points;
- arrangements for receiving and transmitting pollution reports;
- a national contingency plan;
- minimum oil-spill response equipment;
- training and exercises;
- arrangements for international cooperation and assistance.