The coastal State report: article 8 and Protocol I of the
Convention require that the nearest coastal State be notified of actual
or probable discharges. The intent of this requirement is to ensure
that coastal States are informed without delay of any incident giving
rise to pollution, or threat of pollution, of the marine environment,
as well as of assistance and salvage measures, so that appropriate
action may be taken.
2.3.1 When required: The Plan should provide clear,
concise guidance to enable the master to determine when a report to
the coastal State is required.
2.3.1.1 Actual discharge: A report to the nearest
coastal State is required whenever there is:
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.1 a discharge of oil above the permitted level
for whatever reason including those for the purpose of securing the
safety of the ship or saving life at sea; or
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.2 a discharge during the operation of the ship
of oil in excess of the quantity or instantaneous rate permitted under
the present Convention.footnote.
2.3.1.2 Probable discharge: The Plan should give
the master guidance to evaluate a situation which, though not involving
an actual discharge, would qualify as a probable discharge and thus
require a report. In judging whether there is such a probability and
whether the report should be made, the following factors, as a minimum,
should be taken into account:
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.1 the nature of the damage, failure or breakdown
of the ship, machinery or equipment;
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.2 ship location and proximity to land or other
navigational hazards;
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.3 weather, tide, current and sea state; and
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.4 traffic density.
2.3.1.2.1 It is impracticable to lay down precise
definitions of all types of situations involving probable discharge
which would warrant an obligation to report. As a general guideline,
the master should make a report in cases of:
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.1 damage, failure or breakdown which affects
the safety of ships; examples of such situations are collision, grounding,
fire, explosion, structural failure, flooding, cargo shifting; and
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.2 failure or breakdown of machinery or equipment
which results in impairment of the safety of navigation; examples
of such incidents are failure or breakdown of steering gear, propulsion,
electrical generating system, essential ship-borne navigational aids.
2.3.2 Information required: The Plan must specify,
in appropriate detail, the procedure for making the initial report
to the coastal State. The Organization's guidelines in resolution
A.648(16) provide necessary detail for the Plan writer. The Plan should
include a prepared message form, an example of which is included at appendix II to these Guidelines. Coastal
States are encouraged to take note of table
1 of appendix II and accept this as sufficient initial information.
Supplementary or follow-up reports should as far as possible use the
same format.