UK: FINAL REMINDER LETTER FROM MCA TO OIL SPILL RESPONSE ORGANISATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ACCREDITED

REQUIREMENT FOR ACCREDITATION TO THE UK NATIONAL STANDARD FOR MARINE OIL SPILL RESPONSE ORGANISATIONS

You will be aware that, on 1st November 2018, a one-year ‘grace-period’ to enable UK Marine Oil Spill Response Organisations (OSROs)to become accredited to the UK National Standard for Marine Oil Spill Response Organisations (‘The Standard’) commenced.

We are shortly approaching the halfway point of this grace period and are aware that fewer OSROs than expected have applied for accreditation at this time.

This letter is to remind all OSROs that failure of any OSRO to gain accreditation to The Standard by the end of the ‘grace period’ (1stNovember 2019) will result in the OSRO not being recognised by the MCA and OPRED as fulfilling the requirement for Tier 2 service provision for UK ports, harbours, terminals and offshore installations.

It is worth noting that delaying the accreditation process to the latter end of the remaining period should be avoided as the designated Accreditors have a finite capacity, it would be unrealistic to expect them to be able to manage a tsunami of late requests in the time available.

There are currently two approved accreditation bodies for The Standard; the Nautical Institute, and ISAS.

ISAS: http://www.spillonline.org/osro-intro.html
Contact: Mr John Dawes
johnadawes@btinternet.com

NI: https://www.nautinst.org/
Contact: Mr Bernie Bennett
Bernie.bennett@nautinst.org

To view The Standard, and for more information, please visit the gov.uk website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-standard-for-marine-oil-spill-response-organisations

Your action in this matter is appreciated. If you have any queries, please direct them to: Jayne Ede, Custodian of the UK National Standard for Marine Oil Spill Response Organisations
ukresponderstandard@mcga.gov.uk Tel: 020 381 72277 Mob: 07970 143493

UKSpill News

2020 ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING & DINNER

2020 EVENT SET FOR 21ST APRIL AT WATERMENS HALL LONDON - DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Full Story >>

August 2019 members update

• REMINDER – MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS WILL BE ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE 2019-20 YEAR.
The Board of UKSpill has decided not to increase membership fees for the coming membership year 2019-20, starting on 1st October. Invoices for renewal will be issued in September.

• REMINDER – RESPONDER TRAINING EVENT – CASTLE ARCHDALE, NORTHERN IRELAND
As part of the merger between the UK Scheme and ISAA to form ISAS, the annual training event at Castle Archdale, in Northern Ireland is open to members of the UK Scheme. The 2 day event, over 25-26 September will cover Ground water, Fresh Water, and Heating Oil spills with a training exercise included, see details in Events on the UKSpill Home Page. Contact info@spillaccreditation.org for bookings. Full details see below

• UPDATE ON UKSPILL19 CONFERENCE - DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY
This new event is to be held at the Fire Service College, to launch the new Strategy and a Best Practice Guide for the Spill Industry. The Guide is expected to be in circulation by the Autumn, and aims to obtain approval from all the UK and Eire Environmental Agencies. The event will be open to both members and the public, a draft programme will be launched to members shortly. Contact info@ukspill.org for more information.

• UKSPILL AND ISAS AT CONTAMINATION EXPO, NEC 11-12 SEPTEMBER
The UKSpill stand at the Contamination Expo this year will feature our new development with ISAS. Free Tickets for the event can be obtained by clicking on http://www.contaminationexpo.com
Full Story >>

2019 ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING MINUTES

Draft Minutes of the 2019, 15th ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING of the UK Spill Association

19 March 2019

1. The 15th Annual General Meeting of the UK Spill Association was held at Watermen’s Hall, London, on Tuesday 26th February 2019.

2. The meeting opened at 1810hrs. The co chair M Orr welcomed 20 member companies, a total of 43 members and guests. No apologies. The minutes of the 2018 Annual Members Meeting were approved, proposed by A Crawford, and seconded by A Garside.

3. The chairman thanked members for attending, and announced that R Proctor was standing down as co chair. The Board had appointed L Barber as a replacement, and asked Members to approve, all were in favour. The Board had also proposed that the ongoing Board remain at 5 members, after the retirement of A Crawford, and P Rayner. This was approved by the members. The Chairman then extended his thanks on behalf of the members for both the services of R Proctor, and also A Crawford and P Rayner. The Chairman proposed that contract with the Executive Director should be extended to end 2019, which was approved by members.

4. The Accounts for 2018-19 will be circulated with the Minutes.

5. The Executive Director briefly reported on the Association’s activities in 2018-19, looking forward to 2020. The merger of the Accreditation Scheme with ISAA is underway and the new joint entity ISAS has been approved by the MCA. In 2019, UKSpill will again take a stand at Seawork in June, and Contamination Expo in September. In addition, the Association is planning a 2 day Inland Spill Conference at the Fire Service College later in the year..The Chairman then opened the Meeting for discussion by Members – No other issues were raised.
6. Any other business – RM noted that again OAMPS had kindly sponsored the Awards and the drinks reception after the Annual Meeting.
7. Meeting closed at 1840hrs.

RMM 180316

Full Story >>

INTERSPILL 2021 VENUE ANNOUNCED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20th May 2019

The Interspill Committee have decided to hold the next event of this triennial series, Interspill 2021, at RAI, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the dates will be confirmed shortly.

Richard Proctor, Chairman of Interspill, said that “the decision was unanimous and reflected the importance of locating the event at a European city, where the oil, marine and environment industries come together, adding that the success of the event held in Amsterdam in 2015 was significant factor in this decision.” The Committee plan to announce its preliminary Conference and Events programme in autumn 2019.

Spill Response Group Holland, (SRGH) have agreed to host the event, as members of the Interspill Committee. SRGH Chairman, Edwin Stolk, welcomed the decision and is delighted to host the event in Amsterdam again. Interspill is contracted with Reed Exhibitions to partner and organise the 2021 event.

Interspill is the leading European oil spill conference and exhibition, and will build on the success of Interspill 2018 in London, and previous events since its launch in 2000. Interspill will continue to act as a technical forum to review past and consider future spills, and support the networking that this group depends on. Interspill 2018 was co located with Oceanology International, at Excel in London, and attracted over 1200 delegates, visitors and exhibitors from over 70 countries, . Proceedings of the 2018 Conference, Workshops and Seminars are published on the Interspill website www.interspill.org

Interspill 2021 will reflect the strength and breadth of its Committee, which includes the European Spill industry trade organisations, NOSCA, SYCOPOL, UKSPILL and SRGH, together with the European Maritime Safety Agency, (EMSA), IPIECA, ITOPF. the International Maritime Organization, (IMO), the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, (IOPC Funds), France’s Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE), and Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL).
For further information see www.interspill.org and contact Roger Mabbott, Director, Interspill Ltd at info@interspill.org” or on +443334441890
(For information on RAI Amsterdam - http://www.rai.nl/en/
(For information on SRGH – http://srgh.nl/
For information on Reed Exhibitions - http://www.reedexpo.com/
Full Story >>

PRESS RELEASE FOR ISAS CONTRACT WITH THE MCA

INTERNATIONAL SPILL ACCREDITATION SCHEME (ISAS) approved by MCA for the new Marine Standard
For release, Monday 29 October 2018
The International Spill Accreditation Scheme (ISAS) a joint venture between the UK Spill Association and ISAA, has after approval of its Scheme by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), now concluded a formal agreement with the MCA.
The agreement was signed on 16th October 2018 and represents the beginning of a cooperation between the UK Spill Association, through its UK Spill Contractor’s Accreditation Scheme, and ISAA, the International Spill Accreditation Association Scheme. This brings together over 60 Oil Spill Responder Organisations (OSRO’s) in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The new UK National Standard for Marine OSRO’s comes into force on the 1st of November 2018, marking the beginning of a one-year grace period for providers of Tier 2 response services and their recipients, during which time previous marine accreditations will continue to be recognised. Under the MCA's OPRC Guidelines for Ports and OPRED's Guidance Notes for Preparing Oil Pollution Emergency Plans, from the 1st November 2019 OSRO’s delivering or intending to deliver Tier 2 response services to ports, harbours, marine terminals and offshore installations will be required to be in compliance with the new Standard . This standard replaces Marine Accreditations previously in place. For details of the standard go to: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/715009/UK_National_Standard_for_Marine_Oil_Spill_Response_Organisations.pdf
Mark Orr, co chair of the UK Spill Association said “The ISAS partnership brings the UK Spill Accreditation and ISAA Schemes together under one banner. Henceforth, apart from Accreditation to the new Marine Standard, ISAS will offer Accreditation of Inland Spill Response based on high standards that have successfully been operated for over a decade by both UKSpill and ISAA Schemes. With the increasing need to protect our environment from the harm that oil spillages can cause, basic spill response procedures audited by an experienced accreditation body provide assurance of standards, competence and capability.”
Further information can be obtained from the Scheme Manager, John Dawes - email johnadawes@btinternet.com or info@ukspill.org
For further information the UK Spill Association see www.ukspill.org contact info@ukspill.org or on +443334441890

Full Story >>

Spill Industry Seminars at InterSpill 2018

With just over three weeks to go, UKspill is host again for the Interspill Conference & Exhibition to be held at Excel, in London’s Dockland over 13 to 15 March 2018.
Full Story >>

More news >>