Administrativo

MSC-MEPC.6/Circ.5
31 March 2009
ANNEX 2
LIST OF NATIONAL OPERATIONAL CONTACT POINTS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECEIPT, TRANSMISSION AND PROCESSING OF
URGENT REPORTS ON INCIDENTS INVOLVING HARMFUL SUBSTANCES,
INCLUDING OIL FROM SHIPS TO COASTAL STATES
1
The following information is provided to enable compliance with Regulation 37 of MARPOL
Annex I which, inter alia, requires that shipboardpollution emergency plans for oil (SOPEP) shall contain
a list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of a pollution incident involving such
substances. Requirements for oil pollution emergency plans and relevant oil pollution reporting
procedures are contained in Articles 3 and 4 of the 1990 OPRC Convention.
2
This information is also provided to enable compliance with Regulation17 of MARPOL Annex II
which, inter alia, requires that the shipboard marine pollution emergency plans for oil and/or noxious
liquid substances (SMPEP) shall contain a list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of a
pollution incident involving such substances. In this context, requirements for emergency plans and
reporting for hazardous and noxious substances are alsocontained in Article 3 of the 2000 OPRC-HNS
Protocol.
3
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 administrationsresponsible for receiving and processing
reports as developed and up-dated by the Organization 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. Under Article 8 of Convention, each Party to the
Convention shall notify the Organization with complete details ofauthorities responsible for receiving and
processing reports on incidents for circulation to other Parties and Member States of the Organization.
Attention is also drawn to both Guidelines which stipulate that "in the absence of a listed focal point, or
should any undue delay be experienced in contacting the responsible authority by direct means, the master
should be advised to contact thenearest coastal radio station, designated ship movement reporting station
or rescue co-ordination centre (RCC) by the quickest available means".
4
The List of National Operational Contact Points contained in the circular is updated at the end of
each calendar year. This list is an update of that contained in MSC-MEPC.6/Circ.2 dated
31 December 2006, as amended.
5
The List of NationalOperational Contact Points is available on the Internet and can be accessed
as follows: http://www.imo.org (select ‘Circulars/Contact Points’ or ‘National Contacts/Contact
Points’ on the left hand side of the IMO homepage).
6
The Internet version is updated on a quarterly basis and includes on page 2 a summary
indicating which country has submitted changes to its information, since the previousupdate.

7

On receipt of this latest version and in order to maintain an accurate list, it is necessary that Member
States check their respective information to ensure that it is correct. Effective 29 February 2008, Member
States are requested to directly update their respective information in the Global Integrated Shipping
Information Systems (GISIS) using the reporting facilities of theContact Points module. Prior to 29 February
2008.

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MSC-MEPC.6/Circ.5
Annex 2
Page 2
Changes or Amendments to the
LIST OF NATIONAL OPERATIONAL CONTACT POINTS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECEIPT, TRANSMISSION AND PROCESSING OF
URGENT REPORTS ON INCIDENTS INVOLVING HARMFUL SUBSTANCES,
INCLUDING OIL FROM SHIPS TO COASTAL STATES

The following updates are based on information from countries...