The Coast Guard of La Plata in Buenos Aires reports that any vessel conducting bunkering operations at Zona Comun, off La Plata, is obliged to set up a contract with an oil spill response organization (OSRO).
Accordingly, all vessels are required to have in place preventive arrangements to respond to any oil spill within 60 minutes of occurrence, commonly referred as an “OSRO Certificate”.
The Swedish Club came into contact with the Environmental Protection division of the Coast Guard who has confirmed this requirement as decided by the Chief of Coast Guard’s La Plata station as you will see from the letter enclosed (both in Spanish and its free translation for
It is highlighted that this requirement applies to any vessel, whether a tanker or not.
In addition, the Maritime Authority stressed that when bunkers are delivered either alongside a berth or at a lightering area within 12 miles from the coast, it is necessary to have booms deployed when in port or equipment and personnel mobilized in designated lightering areas which are provided by OSROs approved by Coast Guards.
