.1 Environmental and social factors, such as:
- safety of those on board
- threat to public safety
What is the nearest distance
to populated areas?
- pollution caused by the ship
- designated environmental areas
Are the place of
refuge and its approaches located in sensitive areas such as areas
of high ecological value which might be affected by possible pollution?
Is there, on environmental grounds, a better choice of place
of refuge close by?
- sensitive habitats and species
- fisheries
Are there any offshore and fishing or
shellfishing activities in the transit area or in the approaches to
the place of refuge or vicinity which can be endangered by the incoming
ship in need of assistance?
- economic/industrial facilities
What is the nearest
distance to industrial areas?
- amenity resources and tourism
- facilities available
Are there any specialist vessels
and aircraft and other necessary means for carrying out the required
operations or for providing necessary assistance?
Are
there transfer facilities, such as pumps, hoses, barges, pontoons?
Are there reception facilities for harmful and dangerous
cargoes?
Are there repair facilities, such as dockyards,
workshops, cranes?
.2 Natural conditions, such as:
- Prevailing winds in the area.
Is the place of refuge
safely guarded against heavy winds and rough seas?
- Tides and tidal currents.
- weather and sea conditions
Local meteorological
statistics and number of days of inoperability or inaccessibility
of the place of refuge.
- bathymetry
Minimum and maximum water depths in the
place of refuge and its approaches.
The maximum draught
of the ship to be admitted. Information on the condition of the bottom,
i.e., hard, soft, sandy, regarding the possibility to ground a problem
vessel in the haven or its approaches.
- seasonal effects including ice
- navigational characteristics
In the case of a non-sheltered
place of refuge, can salvage and lightering operations be safely conducted?
Is there sufficient space to manoeuvre the ship, even without
propulsion?
What are the dimensional restrictions of
the ship, such as length, width and draught?
Risk of
stranding the ship, which may obstruct channels, approaches or vessel
navigation.
Description of anchorage and mooring facilities
in the place of refuge.
- operational conditions, particularly in the case of a port
Is
pilotage compulsory and are pilots available?
Are tugs
available? State their number and horsepower.
Are there
any restrictions? If so, whether the ship will be allowed in the place
of refuge, e.g. escape of poisonous gases, danger of explosion, etc.
Is a bank guarantee or other financial security acceptable
to the coastal State imposed on the ship before admission is granted
into the place of refuge?
.3 Contingency planning, such as:
- competent MAS
- roles and responsibilities of authorities and responders
Fire
fighting capability
- response equipment needs and availability
- response techniques
Is there a possibility of containing
any pollution within a compact area?
- international co-operation
Is there a disaster relief
plan in the area?
- evacuation facilities
.4 Foreseeable consequences (including in the
media) of the different scenarios envisaged with regard to safety
of persons and pollution, fire, toxic and explosion risks.