Transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea (STS operations)
Transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea (STS operations)
Transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea (STS operations)
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REPUBLIC OF CYPRUSMINISTRY OFCOMMUNICATIONS AND WORKSCircular No 25/2012TEN 5.13.09TEN 4.28.03.10DEPARTMENTOF MERCHANT SHIPPINGLEMESOS20 June 2012- To all Owners, Managers and Represent<strong>at</strong>ives <strong>of</strong> Shipsunder the Cyprus flag and <strong>of</strong> Ships <strong>of</strong> all flags within the territory <strong>of</strong> theRepublic <strong>of</strong> Cyprus- Recognised Organis<strong>at</strong>ions- Cyprus Ports AuthoritySubject: <strong>Transfer</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>between</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>tankers</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>sea</strong> (<strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions)within Cyprus Territorial W<strong>at</strong>ers and Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ)I refer to the above subject and wish to inform you in addition to the provisions<strong>of</strong> Circular 35/2010 <strong>of</strong> 7 th December 2010 <strong>of</strong> the following:The new Chapter 8 <strong>of</strong> Annex I <strong>of</strong> the MARPOL Convention ‘‘Prevention <strong>of</strong>Pollution during transfer <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>between</strong> Oil Tankers <strong>at</strong> Sea (<strong>STS</strong>)’’ enteredinto force on 1 st January 2011. The regul<strong>at</strong>ions contained in this chapter apply to<strong>oil</strong> <strong>tankers</strong> <strong>of</strong> 150 gross tonnage and above engaged in the transfer <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>cargo</strong><strong>between</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>tankers</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>sea</strong> (<strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions) and their <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions conductedon or after 1 April 2012.I. Notific<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Cyprus Competent AuthoritiesIn accordance with the requirements <strong>of</strong> paragraph 1 <strong>of</strong> regul<strong>at</strong>ion 42(Notific<strong>at</strong>ion), each <strong>oil</strong> tanker subject to the new Chapter 8 shall notify therelevant authorities <strong>of</strong> the Republic <strong>of</strong> Cyprus about the intended <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ion,either per telefax or e-mail, as follows:AuthorityDepartment <strong>of</strong> MerchantShippingVessel Traffic Monitoring andInform<strong>at</strong>ion System (VTMIS)Cyprus Ports AuthorityVessel Traffic Services (CPA-VTS)Telephone +357 25 848 277, +357 25 848114 +357 25 207 225, +357 25 207 182Telefax +357 25 848 173 +357 25 561 914e-mail vtmis@dms.mcw.gov.cy vts@cpa.gov.cyKyllinis Street, Mesa Geitonia, 4007 Lemesos, Postal Address: P.O.Box 56193, 3305 Lemesos, CyprusTelephone: +357 25848100, Telefax: +357 25848200E-mail: maritimeadmin@dms.mcw.gov.cy, Web page: http://www.shipping.gov.cy
3equipment for the collection <strong>of</strong> any discharge <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong>, is available, andready for immedi<strong>at</strong>e use. The capacity and quantity <strong>of</strong> the saidequipment shall be proportion<strong>at</strong>e to the quantity <strong>of</strong> the carried <strong>oil</strong>or <strong>oil</strong> deriv<strong>at</strong>ives; and(c) a dispersant <strong>of</strong> an approved type is available for use, <strong>at</strong> the requiredquantity for each case, to comb<strong>at</strong> any eventual discharge <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> or<strong>oil</strong> deriv<strong>at</strong>ives (see also section V below).(2) The duties according to the previous subsection may be assigned bythose responsible in law, with the approval <strong>of</strong> the CompetentAuthority, to a suitable entity or organiz<strong>at</strong>ion considered by theCompetent Authority to be capable for a successful confront<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong>the risks arising from the pollution as more specifically prescribed inRegul<strong>at</strong>ions.In order to comply with the applicable <strong>oil</strong> pollution prevention measures, the<strong>tankers</strong> involved in <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions will require the assistance <strong>of</strong> third partyservices for deploying and handling <strong>oil</strong> spill equipment <strong>at</strong> <strong>sea</strong> and for thetemporary storage <strong>of</strong> the recovered <strong>oil</strong> and <strong>oil</strong>y residues from the <strong>sea</strong>.V. Prohibition to use chemical dispersants in case <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> pollutionAccording to section 7 <strong>of</strong> Law 57/1989, “the use <strong>of</strong> dispersants or other antipollutionchemical substances to comb<strong>at</strong> pollution, without the relevantapproval <strong>of</strong> the Director <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Fisheries <strong>of</strong> the Ministry <strong>of</strong>Agriculture and N<strong>at</strong>ural Resources (DFMR) is prohibited”. The contact details <strong>of</strong>DFMR are:Department <strong>of</strong> Fisheries and Marine Re<strong>sea</strong>rchTel. +357 22 807 867, +357 22 807 807Fax: +357 77 59 55e-mail: lloizides@dfmr.moa.gov.cyVI. Emergency contact details in case <strong>of</strong> <strong>oil</strong> pollutionOil pollution incidents should be reported immedi<strong>at</strong>ely by the Master(s) <strong>of</strong> thetanker(s) involved in <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions as follows:Joint Rescue Coordin<strong>at</strong>ion Centre (JRCC)- LarnacaTel No: 357 24 64 30 05 or 357 1441INMARSAT- C: 421099999VHF <strong>at</strong> Channel 16MF <strong>at</strong> 2182 kHzORCyprus Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Inform<strong>at</strong>ion System (VTMIS)Tel No: 357 25 84 82 77 or 357 25 84 81 14INMARSAT- C: 421299910VHF <strong>at</strong> Channel 16
4VII. <strong>STS</strong> Oper<strong>at</strong>ions PlanAccording to regul<strong>at</strong>ion 41 (General Rules on safety and environmentalprotection) <strong>of</strong> the new Chapter 8 <strong>of</strong> Annex I <strong>of</strong> the MARPOL Convention, any <strong>oil</strong>tanker involved in <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions, (i) shall carry on board an <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ionsPlan, which shall be approved by the ship’s Administr<strong>at</strong>ion and (ii) shall complywith its <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions Plan.The masters, owners, managers and represent<strong>at</strong>ives <strong>of</strong> ships flying the Cyprusflag and <strong>of</strong> ships <strong>of</strong> foreign flags involved in <strong>STS</strong> oper<strong>at</strong>ions within the territorialw<strong>at</strong>ers and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) <strong>of</strong> the Republic <strong>of</strong> Cyprus are advisedto abide strictly by the new MARPOL amendments and with the instructions <strong>of</strong>the present Circular.This Circular must be placed on board <strong>oil</strong> <strong>tankers</strong> flying the Cyprus Flag.Ioannis Efstr<strong>at</strong>iouActing DirectorDepartment <strong>of</strong> Merchant Shippingcc: - Permanent Secretary, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Communic<strong>at</strong>ions and Works- Permanent Secretary, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs- Maritime Offices <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Merchant Shipping abroad- Diplom<strong>at</strong>ic Missions and Honorary Consular Officers <strong>of</strong> the Republic- Director General, Cyprus Ports Authority- Cyprus Shipping Chamber- Cyprus Union <strong>of</strong> Shipowners- Cyprus Shipping Associ<strong>at</strong>ion- Cyprus Bar Associ<strong>at</strong>ion
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