Panama plans prevention as well as cure
The new and important acronym PCSOPEP is about to join the
shipowners lexicon. But the Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution
Emergency Plan which comes into effect tomorrow has so far
received little international focus. Shipping consultant Maria
Dixon deals with the key questions- Friday December 31 2004
In terms of spill prevention and containment, the Panama
Canal has an excellent record. During its 90-year life span,
there have been no major oil spills involving transiting
vessels.
All the same, the canal authorities are taking no chances,
and a spill in the Suez Canal a short time ago was a reminder of
the ever-present danger on an international scale.
Our research indicates that during the last 26 years, about
nine incidents at the Panama Canal have resulted in oil spills,
all considered minor incidents in terms of quantity of oil lost.
For instance, some four years ago it was reported that Panama
Canal specialists successfully collected nearly all of the 100
barrels of crude (10,000 gallons) spilled by the
Greek-registered panamax, Neapolis, while passing through Pedro
Miguel Locks.
During the cleaning exercise, transiting operations at the
canal were not interrupted, with only a few hours’ delay at
the lock itself. Canal operations people had no difficulty in
containing the spill or preventing it from reaching the
neighbouring areas or the open sea.
Our research indicates that about 85% of all transits through
the Panama Canal will have to comply with the plan.
What is a PCSOPEP?
The objective of the Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution
Emergency Plan is to implement an emergency preparedness
strategy for Panama Canal waters, thereby minimising the
consequences of any spills and emergencies by safeguarding life,
reducing the impact on the environment, and ensuring the
continuous operation of the canal.
The Regulations on Navigation in Panama Canal Waters state
that vessels shall have the primary responsibility of
implementing the PCSOPEP and participating in the response.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has established a
preparedness programme for oil spill emergencies in its waters.
In the response sequence to an oil spill, the activation of the
plan is the responsibility of the vessel. Besides actions taken
by the vessel, the ACP will respond in accordance with the canal’s
Incident Management System.
Which ships will be affected?
The plan will apply to toll-paying vessels transiting the Panama
Canal with a 400 tonnes or more carrying capacity of oil as
cargo and/or fuel. The carrying capacity is equal to that of the
sum of the capacities of all oil cargo tanks and fuel tanks.
How is the Panama Canal prepared in case of any oil spill?
For the purpose of oil spill response planning, Panama Canal
waters have been divided into three main response areas:
- the Pacific Anchorage and Channel Area;
- the Lake areas; and
- the Atlantic Anchorage and Channel Area.
Both the Pacific and Atlantic areas are saltwater bodies of
the canal, whereas the lakes are freshwater bodies. As such, the
specifications required for equipment and response strategies
differ for each area.
The authority has obtained additional equipment in sufficient
quantities, through acquisition or contracting, and placed it in
strategic locations along the waterway.
How will the vessels be classified once they submit their
PCSOPEP to the ACP for verification?
Vessels will be classified as follows:
- Tier S for vessels with an oil-carrying capacity of 400
tonnes up to 1,000 tonnes.
- Tier 1 for vessels with an oil carrying capacity of more
than 1,000 tonnes up to 7,000 tonnes.
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 for vessels with an oil-carrying
capacity of more than 7,000 tonnes up to 15,000 tonnes.
- Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 for vessels with an oil
carrying capacity of more than 15,000 tonnes.
What other documents will vessels need to submit?
Together with the application there must be:
- a copy of the International Oil Pollution Prevention
Certificate (IOPP); and
- a copy of the Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution
Emergency Plan, prepared specifically for the vessel.
- Additionally, either a copy of the Shipboard Oil Pollution
Emergency Plan (SOPEP), Annex I, Marpol;
- or a copy of the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan
(SMPEP), Annex II, Marpol, if requested.
How should the shipowner prepare the emergency plan ?
The PCSOPEP is a unique plan that has to be prepared in
conjunction with the existing SOPEP plan of the vessel, and has
to include:
- oil pollution prevention measures for Panama Canal waters;
- spill notification procedures in a prioritised sequence;
- spill response procedures;
- crew training programme for the reaction to shipboard and
shore spill incidents;
- record of exercises; and
- identification of the "authorised person" and
telephone and facsimile where they can be reached on a
24-hour basis.
Are these charges separate and distinct to those resulting
from expenses generated from the response to an oil spill?
Yes, these charges are separate from any expenses arising from
an oil spill; however, as in the past, in the event of an oil
spill, all charges for actual response will be assessed.
What will happen to ships arriving at the Panama Canal
after January 1 without a PCSOPEP?
Delays and/or penalties could result from non-compliance with
ACP regulations.
Within the plan, what is an "authorised person"
and how should he or she be appointed?
Every single ship must have an authorised person.
The old concept of "qualified individual" has been
replaced by this system. The person has to be domiciled and
reside in the Republic of Panama, and serve as liaison between
the vessel and the Incident Management System of the Panama
Canal Authority.
This individual shall be empowered to obtain and consign
guarantees to cover the costs of the response and clean-up of
oil spills to the satisfaction of the Panama Canal.
The authorised person shall be fluent in either English or
Spanish and should have general knowledge and skills or
experience in the Incident Management System and emergency
preparedness. Knowledge of spill response operations is
optional, but certainly in the best interests of the plan
holder.
What is the line of communication in case of an oil spill?
As soon as it happens, the vessel must contact the authorised
person. He or she will in turn ensure communication capabilities
to interact with the authority's Incident Management System.
How should the PCSOPEP be submitted?
Preferably through electronic mail, at pcsopep@pancanal.com,
in Portable Document Format (pdf) and shall be provided not less
than 96 hours prior to the vessel's arrival in Panama Canal
waters. PCSOPEPs may also be delivered to: Panama Canal
Authority, Emergency and Contingency Management Division
Building 752, Arnulfo Arias Madrid Street, Balboa, Panama,
Republic of Panama.
What is a Notice of Acknowledgement to the vessel?
Once the plan has been submitted, the authority will issue a
Notice of Acknowledgement to the vessel. This will be valid for
two years, providing that the PCSOPEP fulfills the requirements
of section four of Chapter IX of the Regulations on Navigation
in Panama Canal waters.
The notice shall be carried on board and presented as a
transit requirement when requested by the authority.
Can the Notice of Acknowledgement become invalid?It
will become invalid if there are:
- significant changes in vessel configuration that affect
information included in the plan;
- significant changes in a vessel's emergency response
structure or procedures;
- any non-compliance condition found during random
inspections by the Panama Canal Authority; or
- changes in vessel name, ownership, or administration that
affect the relationship with the ACP and the authorised
person.
Whom shall the shipowner or shipmanager contact at the
Panama Canal with any queries over the plan?Documents,
circulars and notices with the guidelines, models, and other
information can be found at www.pancanal.comFor more specific
questions operators can send an email to pcsopep@pan canal.com
How much will the PCSOPEP cost the shipowner?The ACP
will charge a fee based on the vessel's tier classification and
hull construction, applicable to each transit.
| Type of vessel |
Vessel tariff
per transit (double hull vessels) |
| Vessels with an oil carrying
capacity of 400 tonnes up to 1,000 tonnes (tier S) |
$200 |
| Vessels with an oil carrying
capacity of 1,001 tonnes up to 7,000 tonnes (tier 1) |
$350 |
| Vessels with an oil carrying
capacity of 7,001 tonnes up to 15,000 tonnes (tier 2) |
$600 |
| Vessels with an oil carrying
capacity of more than 15,000 MT (tier 3) |
$750 |
| Surcharge for vessels carrying
oil as cargo and having single side or single bottom |
25% |
| Surcharge for vessels carrying
oil as cargo and having single hull |
50% |
Maria Dixon is a director of ISM Shipping Solutions, London
© 2004 Maria Dixon - ISM Shipping Solutions Ltd.
Published in Loyds List, with permission from
the Author
