National Maritime Oil/HNS Spill Contingency Plan (NMOSCP)

The National Maritime Oil & HNS Spill Contingency Plan (NMOSCP) establishes a national framework and strategy to coordinate marine pollution preparedness and response. It addresses all oil and HNS pollution whether it originates from ships, harbours, offshore units or oil/HNS handling facilities and land-based sources. It covers waters in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Additionally, the National Maritime Oil & HNS Spill Contingency Plan (NMOSCP) is consistent with the relevant International Conventions to which Ireland is a party. It has been developed with due regard to the International Convention, EU Directives and operational guidelines. The NMOSCP includes a number of guidance documents and standard operating procedures and their appendices which address key elements of effective preparedness and response.

Coordination between the Irish Coast Guard, other government and/or non-government entities is an essential feature of the national organisation represented in the NMOSCP. It also addresses the mechanisms to request assistance from other countries through bi-lateral and multi-lateral arrangements. Further it provides a platform to coordinate responses in the context of the Major Emergency Management Framework (http://mem.ie/ ) and separately under the Strategic Emergency Management National Structures and Framework http://www.emergencyplanning.ie

Finally, the implementation of the NMOSCP will address Ireland’s obligation under international convention in respect to preparedness and response to maritime pollution incidents. Additionally it will provide the Irish Maritime Administration (Irish Coast Guard) with a framework in operations bench marked against best international practice in this area.