Oil Spillage Contingency Plan
As a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UK has an obligation to protect & preserve the marine environment. Following a few high profile oil pollution incidents the Government decided that there was a requirement to legislate in order to ensure that a co-ordinated national approach was made to the problem. The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping & Offshore Installations was introduced in January 2000.
The plan requires Harbour Authorities to have oil pollution emergency plans that are compatible with the National Contingency Plan. Harbour Authorities are also required to consult all the relevant local authorities during the production of its plan.
The Portland Harbour Management team consulted the following agencies: -
The Maritime Coastguard Agency
Dorset County Council
West Dorset District Council
DEFRA
The Environment Agency
English Nature
Weymouth Harbour Authority
The Portland Oil Spill Contingency Plan was approved in January 2002. The Government requires all authorities to resubmit their plans for approval every five years or when any significant changes in operations or circumstances are made.
The Portland plan has recently been re-written & re-consulted to allow for the changes that the PBI bunkering station operations have introduced.
