The US Coast Guard issued a bulletin providing clarifications on activation of a vessel response plan (VRP) and when and how deviation from listed response resources may occur. Failure to activate a plan quickly or failure to use pre-contracted resources can result in delayed response and exacerbate potential environmental damages, USCG warned.
As explained, a VRP must be activated once the vessel’s Master has determined on board resources and personnel cannot meet the needs of an actual or potential incident. VRP activation occurs when the person in charge of the vessel contacts the Qualified Individual (QI) identified in the VRP. The QI and alternate QI are defined in regulation as having the authority to mobilize resources and consultative services identified in the VRP and to act as the liaison with the FOSC. Contacting the QI and/or alternate QI activates the VRP. The QI then assess the situation through consultative services and mobilizes response resources identified in the VRP if the incident requires.
The determination to activate a vessel response plan is ultimately the responsibility of the Master or person in charge of the vessel, USCG notes. The incident may be an actual oil spill or threat of a spill because of a hazardous condition on board such as a disabled vessel, fire or grounding. Although a hazardous condition may not necessarily involve an oil spill, it may involve the potential for one. Contacting the QI and activating the VRP will facilitate rapid consultation with identified services so that proper actions can be taken to mitigate the threat. Coast Guard notifications are required for spills and hazardous conditions on board. When the Coast Guard is notified of a spill or hazardous condition, the FOSC will ask if the VRP has been activated. The QI must employ resources identified in the VRP for the services being considered when managing the response unless given prior approval by the FOSC.
In addition, the FOSC may authorize a deviation from the VRP at their discretion. The FOSC will consider requests to deviate during a response where it would lead to a more expeditious or effective response to the spill or mitigation of its environmental effects. Only under exceptional circumstances will the FOSC authorize deviation from the resource provider listed in the approved VRP. In this situation, the QI must identify the resources and obtain approval for a deviation from the FOSC.
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