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

2. 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 SOSREP Has effectively ultimate powers. Government must “back him or sack him”
National Contingency Plan – Environment Group Training

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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