SOPEP and SMPEP List of National Operational Contact Points

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators / Surveyors / Auditors

C23061 | 01 November 2023

Following Dromon C23038, this circular contains the updated contact list to be included as an appendix to SOPEP and SMPEP shipboard pollution emergency plans.

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 case of a pollution incident. This also applies to the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plans for oil and/or noxious liquid substances (SMPEP) to comply 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 the 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 updated 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 issues an updated list of national operational contact points every three months for the shipboard pollution emergency plans. The latest version of the contact list, issued on 31 October 2023, can be found here.

Act now

Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators should forward the updated list of national operational contact points on board their vessels. Annex 2 of the SOPEP and SMPEP should be updated with this list as issued on 31 October 2023 to avoid
possible deficiencies.

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