-5- HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.

PROTOCOL ON PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND CO-OPERATION

TO POLLUTION INCIDENTS BY HAZARDOUS
AND NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES, 2000

THE PARTIES TO THE PRESENT PROTOCOL,

BEING PARTIES to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response

and Co-operation, done at London on 30 November 1990,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT Resolution 10, on the expansion of the scope of the International
Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990, to include hazardous
and noxious substances, adopted by the Conference on International Co-operation on Oil Pollution
Preparedness and Response 1990,

FURTHER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that pursuant to Resolution 10 of the Conference on

International Co-operation on Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response 1990, the International
Maritime Organization has intensified its work, in collaboration with all interested international
organizations, on all aspects of preparedness, response and co-operation to pollution incidents by
hazardous and noxious substances,

TAKING ACCOUNT of the "polluter pays" principle as a general principle of international

environmental law,

BEING MINDFUL of the development of a strategy for incorporating the precautionary

approach in the policies of the International Maritime Organization,

MINDFUL ALSO that, in the event of a pollution incident by hazardous and noxious
substances, prompt and effective action is essential in order to minimize the damage which may
result from such an incident,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

ARTICLE 1

General provisions

(1) Parties undertake, individually or jointly, to take all appropriate measures in accordance with
the provisions of this Protocol and the Annex thereto to prepare for and respond to a pollution
incident by hazardous and noxious substances.

(2) The Annex to this Protocol shall constitute an integral part of this Protocol and a reference to
this Protocol constitutes at the same time a reference to the Annex.
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 -6-

(3) This Protocol shall not apply to any warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated
by a State and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service. However, each
Party shall ensure by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing the operations or
operational capabilities of such ships owned or operated by it, that such ships act in a manner
consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, with this Protocol.

ARTICLE 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Protocol:

(1) Pollution incident by hazardous and noxious substances (hereinafter referred to as "pollution
incident") means any occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin, including fire or
explosion, which results or may result in a discharge, release or emission of hazardous and noxious
substances and which poses or may pose a threat to the marine environment, or to the coastline or
related interests of one or more States, and which requires emergency action or immediate response.

(2) Hazardous and noxious substances means any substance other than oil which, if introduced
into the marine environment is likely to create hazards to human health, to harm living resources and
marine life, to damage amenities or to interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea.

(3) Sea ports and hazardous and noxious substances handling facilities means those ports or
facilities where such substances are loaded into or unloaded from ships.

(4) Organization means the International Maritime Organization.

(5) Secretary-General means the Secretary-General of the Organization.

(6) OPRC Convention means the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness,
Response and Co-operation, 1990.

ARTICLE 3

Emergency plans and reporting

(1) Each Party shall require that ships entitled to fly its flag have on-board a pollution incident
emergency plan and shall require masters or other persons having charge of such ships to follow
reporting procedures to the extent required. Both planning requirements and reporting procedures
shall be in accordance with applicable provisions of the conventions developed within the
Organization which have entered into force for that Party. On-board pollution incident emergency
plans for offshore units, including Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Facilities and
Floating Storage Units, should be dealt with under national provisions and/or company environmental
management systems, and are excluded from the application of this article.

(2) Each Party shall require that authorities or operators in charge of sea ports and hazardous and
noxious substances handling facilities under its jurisdiction as it deems appropriate have pollution
incident emergency plans or similar arrangements for hazardous and noxious substances that it deems
appropriate which are co-ordinated with the national system established in accordance with article 4
and approved in accordance with procedures established by the competent national authority.
 -7- HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.1

(3) When the appropriate authorities of a Party learn of a pollution incident, they shall notify
other States whose interests are likely to be affected by such incident.

ARTICLE 4

National and regional systems for preparedness and response

(1) Each Party shall establish a national system for responding promptly and effectively to
pollution incidents. This system shall include as a minimum:

(a) the designation of:

(i) the competent national authority or authorities with responsibility for

preparedness for and response to pollution incidents;

(ii) the national operational contact point or points; and

(iii) an authority which is entitled to act on behalf of the State to request assistance
or to decide to render the assistance requested;

(b) a national contingency plan for preparedness and response which includes the
organizational relationship of the various bodies involved, whether public or private,
taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization.

(2) In addition, each Party within its capabilities either individually or through bilateral or
multilateral co-operation and, as appropriate, in co-operation with the shipping industries and
industries dealing with hazardous and noxious substances, port authorities and other relevant entities,
shall establish:

(a) a minimum level of pre-positioned equipment for responding to pollution incidents

commensurate with the risk involved, and programmes for its use;

(b) a programme of exercises for pollution incident response organizations and training
of relevant personnel;

(c) detailed plans and communication capabilities for responding to a pollution incident.
Such capabilities should be continuously available; and

(d) a mechanism or arrangement to co-ordinate the response to a pollution incident with,

if appropriate, the capabilities to mobilize the necessary resources.

(3) Each Party shall ensure that current information is provided to the Organization, directly or
through the relevant regional organization or arrangements, concerning:

(a) the location, telecommunication data and, if applicable, areas of responsibility of

authorities and entities referred to in paragraph (1)(a);

(b) information on pollution response equipment and expertise in disciplines related to

pollution incident response and marine salvage which may be made available to other
States, upon request; and

(c) its national contingency plan.

HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 -8-

ARTICLE 5

International co-operation in pollution response

(1) Parties agree that, subject to their capabilities and the availability of relevant resources, they
will co-operate and provide advisory services, technical support and equipment for the purpose of
responding to a pollution incident, when the severity of the incident so justifies, upon the request of
any Party affected or likely to be affected. The financing of the costs for such assistance shall be
based on the provisions set out in the Annex to this Protocol.

(2) A Party which has requested assistance may ask the Organization to assist in identifying
sources of provisional financing of the costs referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) In accordance with applicable international agreements, each Party shall take necessary legal
or administrative measures to facilitate:

(a) the arrival and utilization in and departure from its territory of ships, aircraft and other
modes of transport engaged in responding to a pollution incident or transporting
personnel, cargoes, materials and equipment required to deal with such an incident;
and

(b) the expeditious movement into, through, and out of its territory of personnel, cargoes,
materials and equipment referred to in subparagraph (a).

ARTICLE 6

Research and development

(1) Parties agree to co-operate directly or, as appropriate, through the Organization or relevant
regional organizations or arrangements in the promotion and exchange of results of research and
development programmes relating to the enhancement of the state-of-the-art of preparedness for and
response to pollution incidents, including technologies and techniques for surveillance, containment,
recovery, dispersion, clean-up and otherwise minimizing or mitigating the effects of pollution
incidents, and for restoration.

(2) To this end, Parties undertake to establish directly or, as appropriate, through the
Organization or relevant regional organizations or arrangements, the necessary links between Parties'
research institutions.

(3) Parties agree to co-operate directly or through the Organization or relevant regional
organizations or arrangements to promote, as appropriate, the holding on a regular basis of
international symposia on relevant subjects, including technological advances in techniques and
equipment for responding to pollution incidents.

(4) Parties agree to encourage, through the Organization or other competent international
organizations, the development of standards for compatible hazardous and noxious substances
pollution combating techniques and equipment.
 -9- HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.1

ARTICLE 7

Technical co-operation

(1) Parties undertake directly or through the Organization and other international bodies, as
appropriate, in respect of preparedness for and response to pollution incidents, to provide support for
those Parties which request technical assistance:

(a) to train personnel;

(b) to ensure the availability of relevant technology, equipment and facilities;

(c) to facilitate other measures and arrangements to prepare for and respond to pollution
incidents; and

(d) to initiate joint research and development programmes.

(2) Parties undertake to co-operate actively, subject to their national laws, regulations and
policies, in the transfer of technology in respect of preparedness for and response to pollution
incidents.

ARTICLE 8

Promotion of bilateral and multilateral co-operation in preparedness and response

Parties shall endeavour to conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements for preparedness for
and response to pollution incidents. Copies of such agreements shall be communicated to the
Organization which should make them available on request to the Parties.

ARTICLE 9

Relation to other conventions and other agreements

Nothing in this Protocol shall be construed as altering the rights or obligations of any Party
under any other convention or international agreement.

ARTICLE 10

Institutional arrangements

(1) Parties designate the Organization, subject to its agreement and the availability of adequate
resources to sustain the activity, to perform the following functions and activities:

(a) information services:

(i) to receive, collate and disseminate on request the information provided by

Parties and relevant information provided by other sources; and
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 10 -

(ii) to provide assistance in identifying sources of provisional financing of costs;

(b) education and training:

(i) to promote training in the field of preparedness for and response to pollution
incidents; and

(ii) to promote the holding of international symposia;

(c) technical services:

(i) to facilitate co-operation in research and development;

(ii) to provide advice to States establishing national or regional response

capabilities; and

(iii) to analyse the information provided by Parties and relevant information

provided by other sources and provide advice or information to States;

(d) technical assistance:

(i) to facilitate the provision of technical assistance to States establishing national

or regional response capabilities; and

(ii) to facilitate the provision of technical assistance and advice, upon the request
of States faced with major pollution incidents.

(2) In carrying out the activities specified in this article, the Organization shall endeavour to
strengthen the ability of States individually or through regional arrangements to prepare for and
combat pollution incidents, drawing upon the experience of States, regional agreements and industry
arrangements and paying particular attention to the needs of developing countries.

(3) The provisions of this article shall be implemented in accordance with a programme
developed and kept under review by the Organization.

ARTICLE 11

Evaluation of the Protocol

Parties shall evaluate within the Organization the effectiveness of the Protocol in the light of
its objectives, particularly with respect to the principles underlying co-operation and assistance.

ARTICLE 12

Amendments

(1) This Protocol may be amended by one of the procedures specified in the following
paragraphs.

(2) Amendment after consideration by the Organization:

 - 11 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.1

(a) Any amendment proposed by a Party to the Protocol shall be submitted to the
Organization and circulated by the Secretary-General to all Members of the
Organization and all Parties at least six months prior to its consideration.

(b) Any amendment proposed and circulated as above shall be submitted to the Marine
Environment Protection Committee of the Organization for consideration.

(c) Parties to the Protocol, whether or not Members of the Organization, shall be entitled
to participate in the proceedings of the Marine Environment Protection Committee.

(d) Amendments shall be adopted by a two thirds majority of only the Parties to the
Protocol present and voting.

(e) If adopted in accordance with subparagraph (d), amendments shall be communicated

by the Secretary-General to all Parties to the Protocol for acceptance.

(f) (i) An amendment to an article or the Annex of the Protocol shall be deemed to
have been accepted on the date on which two thirds of the Parties have
notified the Secretary-General that they have accepted it.

(ii) An amendment to an appendix shall be deemed to have been accepted at the

end of a period to be determined by the Marine Environment Protection
Committee at the time of its adoption, in accordance with subparagraph (d),
which period shall not be less than ten months, unless within that period an
objection is communicated to the Secretary-General by not less than one third
of the Parties.

(g) (i) An amendment to an article or the Annex of the Protocol accepted in

conformity with subparagraph (f)(i) shall enter into force six months after the
date on which it is deemed to have been accepted with respect to the Parties
which have notified the Secretary-General that they have accepted it.

(ii) An amendment to an appendix accepted in conformity with subparagraph

(f)(ii) shall enter into force six months after the date on which it is deemed to
have been accepted with respect to all Parties with the exception of those
which, before that date, have objected to it. A Party may at any time withdraw
a previously communicated objection by submitting a notification to that
effect to the Secretary-General.

(3) Amendment by a Conference:

(a) Upon the request of a Party, concurred with by at least one third of the Parties, the
Secretary-General shall convene a Conference of Parties to the Protocol to consider
amendments to the Protocol.

(b) An amendment adopted by such a Conference by a two thirds majority of those

Parties present and voting shall be communicated by the Secretary-General to all
Parties for their acceptance.

(c) Unless the Conference decides otherwise, the amendment shall be deemed to have
been accepted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedures specified
in paragraph (2)(f) and (g).
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 12 -

(4) The adoption and entry into force of an amendment constituting an addition of an Annex or
an appendix shall be subject to the procedure applicable to an amendment to the Annex.

(5) Any Party which:

(a) has not accepted an amendment to an article or the Annex under paragraph (2)(f)(i); or

(b) has not accepted an amendment constituting an addition of an Annex or an appendix

under paragraph (4); or

(c) has communicated an objection to an amendment to an appendix under paragraph

(2)(f)(ii)

shall be treated as a non-Party only for the purpose of the application of such amendment. Such
treatment shall terminate upon the submission of a notification of acceptance under paragraph
(2)(f)(i) or withdrawal of the objection under paragraph (2)(g)(ii).

(6) The Secretary-General shall inform all Parties of any amendment which enters into force
under this article, together with the date on which the amendment enters into force.

(7) Any notification of acceptance of, objection to, or withdrawal of objection to, an amendment
under this article shall be communicated in writing to the Secretary-General who shall inform Parties
of such notification and the date of its receipt.

(8) An appendix to the Protocol shall contain only provisions of a technical nature.

ARTICLE 13

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

(1) This Protocol shall remain open for signature at the Headquarters of the Organization from 15
March 2000 until 14 March 2001 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. Any State party to
the OPRC Convention may become Party to this Protocol by:

(a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or

(b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification,

acceptance or approval; or

(c) accession.

(2) Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an

instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General.

ARTICLE 14

States with more than one system of law

(1) If a State party to the OPRC Convention comprises two or more territorial units in which
different systems of law are applicable in relation to matters dealt with in this Protocol, it may at the
time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession declare that this Protocol shall
extend to all its territorial units or only to one or more of them to which the application of the OPRC
 - 13 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.1

Convention has been extended, and may modify this declaration by submitting another declaration at
any time.

(2) Any such declarations shall be notified to the dispositary in writing and shall state expressly
the territorial unit or units to which the Protocol applies. In the case of modification the declaration
shall state expressly the territorial unit or units to which the application of the Protocol shall be
further extended and the date on which such extension takes effect.

ARTICLE 15

Entry into force

(1) This Protocol shall enter into force twelve months after the date on which not less than fifteen
States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have
deposited the requisite instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in accordance
with article 13.

(2) For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or
accession in respect of this Protocol after the requirements for entry into force thereof have been met
but prior to the date of entry into force, the ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall take
effect on the date of entry into force of this Protocol or three months after the date of deposit of the
instrument, whichever is the later date.

(3) For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or
accession after the date on which this Protocol entered into force, this Protocol shall become effective
three months after the date of deposit of the instrument.

(4) After the date on which an amendment to this Protocol is deemed to have been accepted
under article 12, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall
apply to this Protocol as amended.

ARTICLE 16

Denunciation

(1) This Protocol may be denounced by any Party at any time after the expiry of five years from
the date on which this Protocol enters into force for that Party.

(2) Denunciation shall be effected by notification in writing to the Secretary-General.

(3) A denunciation shall take effect twelve months after receipt of the notification of
denunciation by the Secretary-General or after the expiry of any longer period which may be
indicated in the notification.

(4) A Party denouncing the OPRC Convention also automatically denounces the Protocol.
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 14 -

ARTICLE 17

Depositary

(1) This Protocol shall be deposited with the Secretary-General.

(2) The Secretary-General shall:

(a) inform all States which have signed this Protocol or acceded thereto of:

(i) each new signature or deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance,

approval or accession, together with the date thereof;

(ii) any declaration made under article 14;

(iii) the date of entry into force of this Protocol; and

(iv) the deposit of any instrument of denunciation of this Protocol together with
the date on which it was received and the date on which the denunciation
takes effect;

(b) transmit certified true copies of this Protocol to the Governments of all States which
have signed this Protocol or acceded thereto.

(3) As soon as this Protocol enters into force, a certified true copy thereof shall be transmitted by
the depositary to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration and publication in
accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 18

Languages

This Protocol is established in a single original in the Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective

Governments for that purpose, have signed this Protocol.

DONE AT London this fifteenth day of March two thousand.

 - 15 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/1/Rev.1

ANNEX

REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS OF ASSISTANCE

(1) (a) Unless an agreement concerning the financial arrangements governing actions of Parties to
deal with pollution incidents has been concluded on a bilateral or multilateral basis prior to
the pollution incident, Parties shall bear the costs of their respective actions in dealing with
pollution in accordance with subparagraph (i) or subparagraph (ii).

(i) If the action was taken by one Party at the express request of another Party, the
requesting Party shall reimburse to the assisting Party the costs of its action. The
requesting Party may cancel its request at any time, but in that case it shall bear the
costs already incurred or committed by the assisting Party.

(ii) If the action was taken by a Party on its own initiative, this Party shall bear the costs
of its action.

(b) The principles laid down in subparagraph (a) shall apply unless the Parties concerned
otherwise agree in any individual case.

(2) Unless otherwise agreed, the costs of action taken by a Party at the request of another Party
shall be fairly calculated according to the law and current practice of the assisting Party concerning
the reimbursement of such costs.

(3) The Party requesting assistance and the assisting Party shall, where appropriate, co-operate in
concluding any action in response to a compensation claim. To that end, they shall give due
consideration to existing legal regimes. Where the action thus concluded does not permit full
compensation for expenses incurred in the assistance operation, the Party requesting assistance may
ask the assisting Party to waive reimbursement of the expenses exceeding the sums compensated or
to reduce the costs which have been calculated in accordance with paragraph (2). It may also request
a postponement of the reimbursement of such costs. In considering such a request, assisting Parties
shall give due consideration to the needs of the developing countries.

(4) The provisions of this Protocol shall not be interpreted as in any way prejudicing the rights of
Parties to recover from third parties the costs of actions to deal with pollution or the threat of
pollution under other applicable provisions and rules of national and international law.

***
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 16 -

ATTACHMENT 2

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE

Resolution 1
Accession to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and
Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC Convention) and ratification and early implementation of
the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by
Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol)

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

MINDFUL that, at the time of adoption of the OPRC-HNS Protocol, 52 States are Parties to
the OPRC Convention,

BEING AWARE that accession to the OPRC Convention is a prerequisite for becoming a
Party to the OPRC-HNS Protocol,

DESIRING that the provisions of the OPRC-HNS Protocol should become effective as soon
as possible to facilitate international co-operation on preparedness for and response to pollution
incidents by hazardous and noxious substances,

1. URGES all States that are not party to the OPRC Convention, including those which have not
participated in this Conference, to accede to the OPRC Convention as soon as possible;

2. CALLS UPON all States Parties to the OPRC Convention to become Parties to the OPRC-
HNS Protocol and to implement its provisions as soon as possible;

3. URGES FURTHER all States to establish, as soon as and to the extent possible, national
systems for responding to pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious substances;

4. URGES ALSO all States, pending the entry into force of the OPRC-HNS Protocol, to co-
operate among themselves and with the International Maritime Organization, as appropriate, in
exchanging information on pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious substances and in
facilitating prompt assistance in the event of a major pollution incident.

***
 - 17 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1

Resolution 2
Early entry into force of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for
Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances
by Sea, 1996 (1996 HNS Convention)

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

RECOGNIZING that the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response

and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC Convention) draws special attention to the International Convention
on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 (CLC 1969) and the International Convention on
the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 (FUND
1971) and being aware of the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil
Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 (CLC Protocol 1992) and the Protocol of 1992 to amend the
International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil
Pollution Damage, 1971 (FUND Protocol 1992),

RECOGNIZING ALSO that measures introduced by the OPRC-HNS Protocol take into
account the provisions of other important conventions developed by the International Maritime
Organization, in particular the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,
1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended (MARPOL 73/78),

BEARING IN MIND the liability and compensation regime established by the International
Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous
and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996,

DESIRING that the provisions of the International Convention on Liability and

Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by
Sea, 1996 should become effective as soon as possible,

CALLS UPON all States, including those that have not participated in this Conference, to become
Parties to 1996 HNS Convention, with a view to its early entry into force.

***
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 18 -

Resolution 3
Promotion of Technical Assistance

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

NOTING that key elements for the success of any action to respond to pollution incidents by
hazardous and noxious substances are good administrative organization in the countries concerned in
this field and, at least, a minimum level of technical preparation,

BEING AWARE of the difficulties that may be encountered by certain States in establishing
such an organization and in preparation through their own resources,

RECOGNIZING the role played in this connection by the International Maritime

Organization (Organization), by regional agreements, by bilateral co-operation and by government
and industry programmes,

RECOGNIZING ALSO the contribution made by the Organization’s technical co-operation

programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment
Programme and national aid agencies in this regard,

NOTING ALSO resolution A.677(16) of the Assembly of the Organization which invites the
Secretary-General of the Organization to undertake on a priority basis an evaluation of the technical
assistance needs of some countries with a view to formulating the long-term objectives of the
Organization’s technical assistance programme in the environment field, and to report the outcome to
the Assembly of the Organization,

1. REQUESTS Member States of the Organization, in co-operation with the Organization when
appropriate, other interested States, competent international and regional organizations and industry
programmes, to strengthen support for countries needing assistance, especially in:

(a) the training of personnel;

(b) ensuring the availability of relevant technologies, equipment and facilities, necessary
for preparedness and response to pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious
substances, so as to enable them to establish at least the minimum structures and
resources for responding to such incidents commensurate with the perceived pollution
risks;

2. REQUESTS ALSO Member States, in co-operation with the Organization when appropriate,
other interested States, competent international or regional organizations and industry programmes, to
strengthen support for countries needing assistance in the initiation of joint research and development
programmes,

3. URGES Member States to provide such support without delay, inter alia, through bilateral or
multilateral co-operation,

***
 - 19 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1

Resolution 4
Development and implementation of a training programme for preparedness and response
to pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious substances

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

NOTING that a key element in the strategy of the International Maritime Organization
(Organization) for protection of the marine environment is the enhancement of national and regional
capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and mitigate marine pollution incidents and to promote
technical co-operation to this end,

BEING AWARE that the capability of a State to respond to a pollution incident by hazardous
and noxious substances depends on the initial assessment, the availability of suitable hazardous and
noxious substances combating equipment, where feasible, as well as of trained response personnel,

RECOGNIZING the role of the Organization in facilitating and organizing national, regional
and global training courses and in developing training aids aimed at providing the necessary technical
expertise, in particular for countries needing assistance in the field of responding to marine pollution
incidents,

RECOGNIZING ALSO, the unique characteristics of hazardous and noxious substances, and
the role of industry in particular the chemical industry in providing specialized training,

RECOGNIZING FURTHER the support of the United Nations Development Programme, the
United Nations Environment Programme and several Member States of the Organization for the
training component of the Organization’s technical co-operation programme,

CONSIDERING the need for an increased global effort by all those concerned with the
maritime transport of hazardous and noxious substances and their environmental impact toward the
development of a global training programme for preparedness and response to pollution incidents by
hazardous and noxious substances,

1. INVITES the Secretary-General of the Organization, in co-operation with interested

governments, relevant international and regional organizations and, in particular, chemical and
shipping industries, to take appropriate action to ensure that a comprehensive training programme be
developed for preparedness and response to pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious substances;

2. INVITES ALSO the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the Organization, on the
basis of proposals made by the Secretary-General, to consider and endorse, as appropriate, such
training programme for preparedness and response to pollution incidents by hazardous and noxious
substances;

3. INVITES FURTHER Member States of the Organization to endeavour to make available the
expertise necessary for the development and implementation of appropriate training programmes.

***
HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1 - 20 -

Resolution 5
Technical Co-operation

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

NOTING that a key element in the strategy of the International Maritime Organization
(Organization) for protection of the marine environment is the enhancement of national and regional
capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and mitigate marine pollution incidents and to promote
technical co-operation to this end,

RECOGNIZING the wide variety of hazardous and noxious substances, each of which
requires specialized response functions and technical expertise,

RECOGNIZING ALSO the inherent hazards associated with these substances,

CONVINCED that it is desirable to establish close co-operation between a State that has
suffered pollution by hazardous and noxious substances and the entities that handle such substances,
in connection with maritime transportation,

REQUESTS co-operation between Member States of the Organization and those entities that
handle hazardous and noxious substances to provide assistance to those responding to pollution
incidents by hazardous and noxious substances.

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 - 21 - HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1

Resolution 6
Early implementation of the provisions of article 10 of the Protocol on Preparedness,
Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and
Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol)

THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution

Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

BEARING IN MIND the relevant provisions of the International Convention on Oil Pollution
Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC Convention),

NOTING the provisions of resolution A.448(XI) of the Assembly of the International

Maritime Organization (Organization) on regional arrangements for combating major incidents or
threats of marine pollution, and noting further Assembly resolutions A.349(IX) and A.677(16), on
technical assistance in the field of protection of the marine environment,

NOTING ALSO, in particular, that article 10 of the OPRC-HNS Protocol by which the
Parties designated the Organization, subject to its agreement and the availability of adequate
resources to sustain the activity, to carry out certain functions and activities and to meet certain
objectives of the OPRC-HNS Protocol,

RECOGNIZING the importance of early implementation of the objectives of article 10 of the

OPRC-HNS Protocol,

1. INVITES the Secretary-General of the Organization, pending the entry into force of the
OPRC-HNS Protocol, to initiate the early implementation of functions and activities in order to meet
the objectives in article 10 of the OPRC-HNS Protocol;

2. INVITES ALSO the Organization to provide a forum for discussion of experiences gained
within regional conventions and agreements concerning response to pollution incidents by hazardous
and noxious substances;

3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to present to the Organization, within one year of this
Conference, a programme which indicates the way in which the Organization contemplates carrying
out the duties mentioned in this OPRC-HNS Protocol;

4. INVITES FURTHER the Organization to review periodically progress made in implementing

article 10 of the OPRC-HNS Protocol and article 12 of the OPRC Convention, within the framework
of a specific body;

5. INVITES ALSO Parties to the OPRC Convention to assist the Organization to ensure the
co-ordination of such a body by means of a support unit.

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