IMO OPRC Level 3 – Response to Oil Spills for Administrators & Senior Managers
The OPRC-HNS Protocol 2000 requires governments to establish the training of relevant personnel and a programme of exercises for the response to pollution from hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). The protocol also called for IMO to develop a comprehensive training programme in cooperation with interested governments and industry.
At the 53rd session of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and on the recommendation of the OPRC-HNS Technical Group approval was given for a project to develop two model training courses for preparedness and response to marine incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances.
The objective of these model courses was to provide practical training and guidance in preparing for and responding to HNS incidents. The courses were not designed to train response personnel. This is a separate and very specific subject.
The new courses were designed to complement the suite of existing IMO OPRC model courses for preparedness and response to marine oil spills and aimed to support the efforts of countries in acceding to and implementing the OPRC Convention 1990 and its HNS Protocol 2000. The courses are aimed at two levels:
OPERATIONAL LEVEL : First responders, Supervisors and On-Scene Commanders
MANAGER LEVEL : Administrators and Senior Managers
Hazardous & Noxious Substance (HNS) Spill Awareness Course
1 Day
The prime purpose of this course is to provide a first introduction to the essential elements of HNS response. The objective is to provide outline knowledge of the principles and issues associated with responding to HNS spills. This course is a one day introduction which provides a basic grounding in the topic.
This introductory day requires no previous knowledge or experience of spill response and will include descriptions of the procedures and equipment employed in the response to oil spillage incidents.
All government authorities, agencies, ports shipping owners, shipping companies or ship operators, operators of bulk facilities for chemicals, chemical and petro-chemical companies and organisations involved in the planning and response to spills of HNS.
- International legislation
- How HNS is transported
- Properties of HNS
- HNS classification system
- Fate and impact of HNS spills in the marine environment
- Response options
- Suitable equipment
- Case studies
- Risk assessments
- Contingency planning
Introduction to Marine Hazardous & Noxious Substance (HNS) Response at Operational Level
3 Days
The Supervisor is responsible for the emergency response team, developing and implementing a response organisation, co-ordinating with other agencies, response strategies and tactics decision making. These and other demands will be made on the Supervisor during the incident and will be addressed in the course.
The course focuses on, and provides a broad range of knowledge and allows the participants to develop the skills to effective manage or supervise an HNS spill response team. The programme will include desktop exercises so that delegates have the opportunity to test and assess their skills.
All managers or supervisors who will lead or supervise HNS spill response teams and those with support responsibilities within the incident command or emergency team
- International legislation
- How HNS is transported
- Types of vessel involved in transporting HNS
- Properties of HNS
- HNS classification system
- Fate and impact of HNS spills in the marine environment
- Response options
- Suitable equipment
- Health & safety
- Decontamination
- Waste handling and disposal
- Case studies
- Risk assessments
- Contingency planning
- Desktop and practical exercises
IMO OPRC Level 2 – Response to Oil Spills for Supervisors & On-scene Commanders
5 Days
The primary role and responsibility of the Supervisor or On-Scene Commander (OSC) is to coordinate and manage the response to an oil spill. The Supervisor or OSC is responsible for the emergency response team, developing and implementing a response organisation, coordinating the work of other agencies involved in the response, deciding on the response strategies and tactics to be used to clean up the spilled oil and coordinating the collection of information necessary to recover costs. These and other demands will be made on the Supervisor or OSC during the incident and will be addressed in the course.
The course focuses on, and provides a broad range of knowledge and allows the participants to develop the skills to effective manage or supervise an oil spill response team. The programme will include desktop exercises so that delegates have the opportunity to test and assess their skills.
Dedicated on-scene commanders and supervisors. Any personnel designated to coordinate on-shore or offshore field activities.
- Oil spill behaviour, fate and effects
- Environmental Impact
- Contingency planning, response management and organisation
- Spill Assessment
- Responder safety
- The use of dispersants
- Containment, protection and recovery of oil
- Waste transfer, storage and disposal
- Alternative response strategies
- Operations planning
- Liability, claims and compensation
- Dealing with the media, NGOs and the community
- Response deactivation
- Post incident briefing
- Practical exercise
- Table-top exercises
IMO OPRC Level 2 – Response to Oil Spills for Supervisors & On-scene Commanders
5 Days
The primary role and responsibility of the Supervisor or On-Scene Commander (OSC) is to coordinate and manage the response to an oil spill. The Supervisor or OSC is responsible for the emergency response team, developing and implementing a response organisation, coordinating the work of other agencies involved in the response, deciding on the response strategies and tactics to be used to clean up the spilled oil and coordinating the collection of information necessary to recover costs. These and other demands will be made on the Supervisor or OSC during the incident and will be addressed in the course.
The course focuses on, and provides a broad range of knowledge and allows the participants to develop the skills to effective manage or supervise an oil spill response team. The programme will include desktop exercises so that delegates have the opportunity to test and assess their skills.
Dedicated on-scene commanders and supervisors. Any personnel designated to coordinate on-shore or offshore field activities.
- Oil spill behaviour, fate and effects
- Environmental Impact
- Contingency planning, response management and organisation
- Spill Assessment
- Responder safety
- The use of dispersants
- Containment, protection and recovery of oil
- Waste transfer, storage and disposal
- Alternative response strategies
- Operations planning
- Liability, claims and compensation
- Dealing with the media, NGOs and the community
- Response deactivation
- Post incident briefing
- Practical exercise
- Table-top exercises