What is SOPEP????

 What is SOPEP? State the main element of SOPEP?

Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP).
MARPOL 73/78 Annex 1 Regulation 37 – Every ship of 400tons gross tonnage and above  and every oil tanker of 150 ton gross tonnage and above shall carry on board a Shipboard oil Pollution Emergency Plan approved by the administration.
The purpose of SOPEP is to provide guidance on the steps to be taken in the event of oil pollution incident.

The plans contains:
The procedure to be followed by the master or other person incharge of the ship to report an oil pollution incident.
The list of authorities or person to be contacted in the event of an oil pollution incident (Designated person).
A detailed description of the action to be taken immediately by person on board to reduce or control the discharge of oil following an accident.
The procedure and point of contact on the ship for coordinating shipboard action with national and local authorities in combating the pollution.


For easy reference, the following plans must be included in SOPEP

Principal particular of the vessel
General arrangement Plan
Capacity plan
Midships section
Shell Expansion plan
Pumping arrangement.

SOPEP to be kept with the Master and Chief Engineer. For it to be effective, it is important that all officers familiarise themselves with the plan. The practice drill and exercises to be carried out in order to reduce error and oversight and to save time and thus reduce the effects of an oil spill.




SHIPBOARD OIL POLLUTION EMERGENCY PLAN – SUMMARY FLOWCHART

This flow diagram is an outline of the course of action that shipboard personnel should follow in responding to an oil pollution emergency based on the guidelines published by the Organization. This diagram is not exhaustive and should not be used as a sole reference in response. Consideration should be given for inclusion of specific reference to the Plan. The steps are designed to assist ship personnel in action to stop or minimize the discharge of oil and mitigate its effects. These steps fall into two main categories – reporting and action.

Discharge of Oil
Probable or Actual
 
Assessment of the Nature of Incident
 
Actions required  
Alert crew members
Identity spill source
Spill assessment



REPORTING ACTION TO CONTROL DISCHARGE  
By Master and/ or designated crew member Measures to minimize the escape of oil and threat to the marine environment  
When to report
All probable and actual spills

How to report
- By quickest means to coastal radio station
- Designated ship movement reporting station or
- Rescue Co-ordination Centre (at sea)
- By quickest available means to local authorities

Who to report
- Nearest Coastal State Harbour and termi-nal operators (in port)
- Shipowner´s manager; P & I insurer
- Head Charterer; Cargo owner
- Refer to contact lists

What to report
- Initial report (Res. A.851(20))
- Follow-up reports
- Characteristics of oil spilled
- Cargo/ ballast/ bunker dispositions
- Weather and sea conditions
- Slick movement
- Assistance required
· Salvage
· Lightening capacity
· Mechanical equipment
· External strike team
· Chemical dispersant/ degreasant NAVIGATION MEASURES

- Alter course/ position and/ or speed
- Change of list and/ or trim
- Anchoring
- Setting aground
- Inititate towage
- Assess safe haven require-ments
- Weather/ tide/ swell fore-casting
- Slick monitoring
- Record of events and commu-nications taken SEAMANSHIP MEASURES

- Safety assessment and pre-caution
- Advice on priority countermea-sures/ preventive measures
- Damage stability and stress consideration
- Ballasting/ deballasting
- Internal cargo transfer opera-tions
- Emergency ship-to-ship trans-fers of cargo and/ or bunker
- Set up shipboard response for:
· Leak sealing
· Fire fighting
· Handling of ship-board response equipment (if available)
· Etc.  
 
STEPS TO INITIATE EXTERNAL RESPONSE  
- Refer to Costal Port State listings for local assistance
- Refer to ship interest contact list
- External clean-up resources required
- Continued monitoring of activities

Major disaster related to oil pollution

Reasons For the cause of the major disaster related to oil pollution.
Describe the precaution for each reason.
A. Fire
B. Oil Spill
C. Collision
D  Flooding
E  Grounding



A. In Event of Fire

In Engine Room
Raise the alarm
If the fire is minor, restrict the spread and use the nearest appropriate fire extinguisher.
In case of Major fire, follow Fire plan on board.
Muster at Emergency Headquarters.
Carry out duties, as assigned and report to Senior officer present. This includes:
a) Sealing off Engine Room by shutting all doors, ventilations, sky light and other points of access.
b) Ensure by a Head count, that all personnel are accounted for.
c) Quick closing valves, Trips for purifiers and all fuel transfer pumps are operated.
Chief engineer, in consultation with the Master, will release CO2 to Engine Room.

Outside the Machinery Spaces
Raise the alarm.
Determine the location of the fire.
Check for oil/hazardous substances, pollution and its possibility and ways to restrict the spread of the fire.
Located any causalities and provide First Aid.
Contain and extinguish the fire (use appropriate fixed fire fighting system).
Emergency Distress transmitter to be set up by ship and kept ready for usage.
If the Vessel is in port - stop cargo work, evacuate shore personnel, keep the Main engine ready on short notice. Inform the

local Fire Brigade and Coast Guard services.
All vessel's movement and events recorded.
The fire fighting plan provides for various group to be assigned specific duties. Attack Party, Back-up Party, Technical

Party and Control Party.


B. In the even of an Oil Spill

This could a rise during Bunkering operations, oil transfers, tank overflows, cargo oil tank or fuel tank leakage due to

damage.
Stop the fuel transfer operation immediately and raise the alarm.
Activate the Oil Spill Contingency plan.
Oil fired galley, if running to be stopped.
The source of the oil spill must be identified, and actions taken to restrict the spread of oil.
Consider draining the split oil into slack cargo tank or slop tanks.
Suspend operations, until leak rectified/isolated.
Clean up affected area.
Use oil spill dispersant and recover as much oil as possible using oil absorbents.

As any Emergency involves liability, compensation and legal issues, a comprehensive log of events and all communications must

be recorded.


C. In the event of a Collision
Main Engine must be stop.
Emergency Alarm raise by Duty Officer.
Manned the Engine Room (in case of UMS vessels).
Investigate and record damage, especially due to ingress of water in Engine room and any equipment which is affected.
Take the required steps for fire fighting, in case of fire.
Closely monitor all tank sounding and confirm if all double bottom tanks are intact/have been damaged.
Check for oil pollution on sea surface immediately around and in the vicinity of the vessel and report.
Check electrical switchboard for foults, e.g low insulation.
Status of Main Engine and auxiliary equipment to be reported to bridge.
Assess immediate danger e.g. possibility of sinking, capsizing or flooding.
Carry out damage control and temporary repairs and report.

The designated Person, who may be the Superintendent, must be informed and follow his instructions. Master will inform Port

Authorities and arrange for the P&I surveyor.


D. I n the even of Flooding

Flooding of the Machinery spaces
If the vessel is at sea, slow down Main Engine and raise Emergency Alarm.
Use Emergency Bilge Injection valve.
Locate and isolate cause, and stop the ingress of water, if possible.
In case of severe leakage, main sea suction valve may have to be shut, which will involve a shut-down of the Generators

(black out), during which repairs must be done.

Flooding of compartments or tanks outside Machinery spaces.
Slow down/stop main engine and raise Emergency Alarm.
Attend E/R services and control, inform Bridge of the status of the main engine and auxiliaries.
Locate any casualties and render first aid.
Check sea surface around for possibility of pollution.
Closely monitor all tank sounding and confirm if all double bottom tanks are intact/have been damaged.
Assess immediate danger e.g. possibility of sinking, capsizing or flooding.
 In case the situation is out of control,
a) Distress Message must be sent from vessel.
b) Follow the procedure of Abandon ship.


In case the situation is brought under control.
a) Initiate Damage control measures, check stability criteria.
b) Assess damage and report to the Superintendent.
c) Unsure cargo is intact.


E. In the event of Grounding
Stop Main Engine. Raise Emergency Alarm.
Attend E/R services and control, inform Bridge of the status of Engine room and Auxiliaries.
Change over to high sea suction.
Closely monitor all tank sounding and confirm if all double bottom tanks are intact/have been damaged.
Assess immediate danger e.g. possibility of sinking, capsizing or flooding.
Check for oil pollution.
Status of main engine to be recorded, which all will include.
a) Crankcase Inspection (check of running gear in details)
b) Crankcase Deflections.
c) Stern tube condition, and oil leak if any.
Steering Gear to be check.
Auxiliary equipment to be check.
May required to clean all sea water cooler/exchangers on the sea water side.
Assist Master in ensuring adequate stability.