BLACK SEA CONTINGENCY PLAN



TO THE PROTOCOL ON COOPERATION IN COMBATING POLLUTION OF THE BLACK SEA BY OIL AND OTHER HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS


GENERAL INTRODUCTORY REMARKS


  • Article IX of 1992 Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Bucharest Convention) calls for its Contracting Parties to cooperate in order to prevent, reduce and combat pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea resulting from emergency situations in accordance with the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations (The Emergency Protocol).
  • Article 2 of the Emergency Protocol states that the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to maintain and promote either individually or through bilateral or multilateral co-operation, contingency plans for combating pollution of the sea by oil and other harmful substances.
  • The Contracting Parties have agreed to adopt the Black Sea Contingency Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) for responding promptly and effectively to marine pollution incidents affecting or likely to affect the Black Sea environment.
  • The Black Sea Contingency Plan includes two volumes as follows:

Volume 1: Response to Oil Spills

Volume 2: Response to Harmful Substances

Other Than Oil [to be developed].


  • The Contracting Parties have noted that


- The transportation of harmful substances other than oil in the Black Sea Area is limited even if an increase has been registered during the last few years.


- The Protocol of 2000 to amend the OPRC 1990 to Cover Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances (OPRC, 1990-HNS Protocol, 2000) was adopted in 2000, and that international guidelines for the development of HNS Contingency Plans has not yet been adopted,

and have agreed that the Volume 2 of the Black Sea Contingency Plan should be prepared in accordance to the appropriate International Guidelines by the year 2006.
  • As an interim measure, the Contracting Parties have agreed that as far as possible and adequate, to apply the requirements for exchange of information between them according to the Communication and Operational principles as set out in Volume 1 of the Black Sea Contingency Plan.

ESAS Contingency Plan (PDF)