SOPEP and SMPEP List of National Operational Contact Points

29 August 2022 |  C22024

Following Dromon C22021, this circular contains the updated contact list to be included as an appendix to SOPEP and SMPEP shipboard pollution emergency plans.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators | Surveyors / Auditors

As per Regulation 37 of MARPOL Annex I a Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) should contain a list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of pollution incident. This is also applicable for the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plans for oil and/or noxious liquid substances (SMPEP) for compliance with Regulation 17 of MARPOL Annex II.

Resolution MEPC.54(32), as amended by resolution MEPC.86(44), on the SOPEP Guidelines and resolution MEPC.85(44), as amended by resolution MEPC.137(53), on the SMPEP Guidelines adopted by the IMO require that these shipboard pollution emergency plans should include, as an appendix, the list of agencies or officials of administrations responsible for receiving and processing reports as developed and up-dated by the IMO in compliance with Article 8 (Reports on incidents involving harmful substances) and Protocol I (Provisions concerning Reports on Incidents Involving Harmful Substances) of the MARPOL Convention.

The IMO is issuing every three months an updated list of national operational contact points for these shipboard pollution emergency plans. You may find the latest version of the contact list issued on 29 July 2022, here.

Act now

Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators should forward the updated list of national operational contact points on board their vessels. The Annex 2 of the SOPEP and SMPEP should be updated with this list as issued on 29 July 2022 in order to avoid possible deficiencies.

Attending Surveyors should, during the forthcoming annual/intermediate/renewal IOPP surveys, assure that the updated list of national operational contact points, as attached, has been included as an appendix to these shipboard pollution emergency plans.