A. Role of MPCU and aerial dispersants as the prime means for the UK counter pollution
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The National Contingency Plan, developed by the United Kingdom Government in consultation with all interested parties, sets out the arrangements for dealing with pollution arising from spillages of oil or other hazardous substances from ships into the marine environment. The central objective of all counter pollution activities is to minimise the threat from pollution to the UK coast or UK interests.
2.0 Summary of Responsibilities
2.1 HM Government accepts the responsibility for dealing with major spillages of oil and other hazardous substances at sea from ships which threaten UK interests.
2.2 The Department of Transport's Coastguard Agency exercises HM Government's responsibilities through its dedicated unit - the MPCU. This Unit is the competent national authority as required by the Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention 1990.
2.3 Shoreline Local Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales and the Department of Environment (Northern lreland) have accepted non-statutory responsibility for dealing with pollution of the shoreline. This situation is under review and consultation.
2.4 Ports and Harbour Authorities have accepted the responsibility for dealing with pollution within port and harbour limits.
2.5 HM Government accepts that shoreline local authorities and port and harbour authorities may need assistance with a major incident causing exceptional pollution. In such circumstances, the MPCU will not only direct offshore operations but will also assist local authorities with co-ordinating the shoreline cleanup response and equipment to ensure a fully integrated and co-ordinated response.
2.6 All reports of spillages of oil or other hazardous substances from ships in or near UK waters should be reported to HM Coastguard who maintain a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year, radio watch. HM Coastguard is responsible for alerting the MPCU whose staff are on call 24 hours a day to assess, monitor and respond to any incident.
3.0 Functions of MPCU
3.1 Oil Spill Response
・ Acting as the competent national authority as required by the OPRC Convention 1990 and maintaining the Government's National Contingency Plan for dealing with oil and chemical spills from ships at sea.
・ Monitoring and following up reports of oil or other hazardous substances from ships in or near UK waters and directing offshore pollution response operations.
・ Procuring and 'maintaining adequate stocks of dispersants and the means of applying it by aerial and ship borne spraying, and equipment for the recovery or transfer of oil at-sea and on the shoreline. (TWO at sea and one ship transfer stockpile of equipment available)
・ Maintaining an airborne remote sensing capability with a data link to land and a computer system to aid assessment of the quality, likely movement and characteristics of the oil spills.
3.2 Chemical Incidents
・ Maintaining computer-based risk assessment and response models to provide initial advice.
・ Maintaining a contracted Chemical Strike Team, and a Chemical Hazards Advisory Group to provide expert advice.
3.3 Pollution Prevention
・ Issuing directions or taking direct action under the Secretary of State's statutory powers of intervention to prevent or reduce pollution.
・ Maintaining a contracted capability to fly 925 hours of surveillance flights in a year to detect and deter illegal operational discharges from vessels and oil installations.
3.4 Local, Port and Harbour Authorities
・ Providing guidance to authorities on local contingency plans and the establishment of Joint Response
