The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an updated version of the country's National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations.
The MCA says: “The purpose of the National Contingency Plan is to ensure that a timely, measured and effective response is put into effect to protect the UK's seas and coasts following an incident from a ship or offshore installation.”
The principles underpinning the Contingency Plan remain unchanged but the new edition takes account of lessons learned following actual incidents and national exercises during recent years. Name and contact details have been updated as appropriate. The entire document is now available on the MCA web site : www.mcga.gov.uk/Environmental / Counter Pollution.
John Astbury, Acting Chief Executive of the MCA said: "The National Contingency Plan has always been based on firm and well-founded principles and these remain unchanged. However, we have learned important lessons in dealing with actual incidents since the plan was first produced. Refreshing the Contingency Plan has been very thorough. It has taken more than a year, and a wide range of stakeholders inside and outside government has been consulted. Their contributions and expertise have been invaluable in helping to make the Plan a very practical document for dealing with marine pollution incidents speedily and efficiently.