The Salvage Control Unit SOSREP and The Salvage Control Unit Speaker name Speaker appointment Add Speaker details National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

SOSREP - The Secretary of State’s Representative Origin of this role was from a Lord Donaldson recommendation after the SEA EMPRESS incident in Milford Haven in 1996. SOSREP Has effectively ultimate powers. Government must “back him or sack him” National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

Structure Secretary of State Chief Executive MCA Salvage led by SOSREP Harbour Authority Director of Maritime Operations At sea clean up led by Search and Rescue led by Shoreline clean up led by MCA CPR HM Coastguard Local Authority/EHS/ Harbour Authority Harbour Authority + MCA support Salvage is separate to search and rescue, at sea response, shoreline response – but has strong communication links. EG provides advice to all cells – only very rarely contributing to search and rescue Salvage Control Unit (SCU) Marine Response Centre (MRC) MRCC/SC Shoreline Response Centre (SRC) Environment Group underpins National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

SOSREP - Function One person to act as representative of Secretary of State Cannot choose to ignore a situation Free to act without recourse to higher authority Ultimate voice Decisive voice Ultimate control Control not Command “Back or sack” Self explanatory Minister must back or sack SOSREP SOSREP is acting in the UK National Interest Avoids salvage by committee of various interests – wasting time Current SOSREP is Hugh Shaw (CHECK THIS IS UP TO DATE WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR TRAINING) National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

SOSREP - Powers Power to intervene and issue directions Power to require ships to be moved Power to establish Temporary Exclusion Zones (TEZ) Power to direct persons in control of coastal land or premises Power to direct operators, managers and servants of offshore installations on the UK continental shelf Can order a casualty to be beached, blown up – anything at all National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

Intervention – Trigger Point SOSREP Intervention – Trigger Point An accident has occurred, oil or other substances may cause significant pollution and the need for Intervention is urgent First step - A direction that plans must be submitted Last resort - Anything or Nothing Does not necessarily need to be an accident – vessel could have lost all power and is drifting towards shore – If Master/Owners are not acting in best interests of the State – then SOSREP can intervene and direct National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

Salvage Control Unit – Structure SOSREP Environment Group SCU membership may include:- Independent Salvage Advisor CPSO Environmental Liaison Officer Salvage Master Harbour Master, Ship owner/insurer representative, Specialist Scientific Advisor, Health/Safety Adviser SCU is the response cell supporting SOSREP Not making decisions but assists SOSREP to make decision(s) SCU is NOT a decision making body; decisions remain the responsibility of SOSREP National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

Salvage Control Unit (SCU) Purpose of SCU is to support SOSREP by: Considering information on progress of salvage Evaluating all possible options Interacting with on board Salvage Team Providing feedback with other units such as MRC, MEIR, Environment Group Facilitating the mobilisation of resources Prime objective of all action is to minimise the risk to UK resources including environmental pollution SOSREP may wish for individual discussions with the ELO – Only one ELO who must have all best information to hand. SOSREP may present a range of possible options to the ELO asking which would be the least damaging. e.g. NAPOLI must be beached before breaking in two in mid-channel – there are four suitable positions we can get her to – which will cause least environmental harm? Public health risks could be greatest hazard – chemical tanker – onshore wind close to highly populated area? SOSREP may ask for a sensitivity prioritising exercise National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

Role of Environmental Liaison Officer Take advice from EG and convey it accurately and cohesively to the SCU To receive information and questions from the SCU and communicate these accurately and cohesively back to the EG Provide an environmental perspective to any statements produced by the SCU to the media The ELOs should be competent and trained officers provided by the core member organisations. The ELOs should be of sufficient experience to be able to recognise environmental hazards and threats as and when they present themselves to the SCU, MRC or SRC. The ELO should be able to act in a stand alone capacity within the SCU, MRC or SRC. The ELO should have sufficient authority and responsibility within the core member organisation to be able to fulfil this role. National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training