Oil Contingency Plans for Naval Activities

Abstract

The key to successful mitigation of any oil spill is the quality of the response planning done prior to any oil escaping to the environment. A successful plan can mean a rapid response and quick mitigation. Bad planning, or no planning, is a sure means to failure.

The U.S. Navy began its part in oil spill contingency planning in the mid-I 970’s in recognition of its worldwide oil spill risks. Since the inception of this program, Navy oil spill contingency planning has undergone significant growth and revision. The program was developed by assigning to major Naval commands having an assigned geographic area of responsibility the requirement to prepare for and respond to oil spills. Next, the program was modified to incorporate lessons learned during the implementation of these plans. Contingency plans were developed throughout the chain of command resulting in an umbrella of oil spill contingency plans, covering all the waters on which the US Navy operated.

Large changes occurred to the Navy’s oil spill planning program after new U.S. laws came into effect as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Simultaneously, parallel efforts were made by the international community as a result of general awareness of the need to develop oil spill contingency plans for vessels. U.S. regulations resulting from these laws were very rigorous. Since there was already a global network of contingency plans in place, a shift in emphasis was made to develop a more thorough training program in which to exercise contingency plans. U.S. Navy contingency planning efforts are now focused on maintaining a high level of preparedness to execute the response plans. Furthermore, Navy contingency planning responds to changes in Navy mission. This includes the increased activity that the U.S. Navy anticipates with other Navies as exercises increase with Partnership for Peace (PFP) Navies in the Black Sea. The Navy recognises this as an important mission and an expansion of its previous role in the area, and further realises that environmental concerns are very high on the Black Sea.

The U.S. Navy will examine the new spill risks it will face in the Black Sea and will incorporate into its existing contingency plan for its Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea the necessary response planning data. Of course, when operating with other Navies the problem of coordination becomes an important factor. It is appropriate that the needs of all Navies with an interest in the Black Sea be involved in this effort and that we collectively develop an oil spill contingency plan applicable to all Navies. Such a plan would be multinational and would be in a format acceptable to all participating Navies. The first step in developing this plan is to conduct an analysis of current Black Sea contingency planning related activities followed by a review of other environmental activities of NATO, the Black Sea Environmental Program, individual national contingency planning efforts, and other programs focusing on the Black Sea environment. Following this preliminary step, a risk analysis will take place, and a contingency plan will be developed to ensure compatibility with other planning areas. In this effort, it will be necessary to work closely with each participating Navy and other national contingency plan developers to ensure the plan is acceptable to everyone and that it accurately reflects all legal and operational requirements.

There are four key steps to be pursued in composing this first multinational Navy Contingency Plan;

• • Develop the plan using new GIS technology to help create a coastal sensitivity map for the Black Sea.

• • Work closely with those responsible for developing national contingency plans.

• • The multinational spill contingency plan must be developed in concert with established international guidelines for contingency plans.

• • The plan must provide for multi-national exercise of the plan, including training and drills, with Black Sea Navies.

This must be a multi-national effort. The U.S. Navy doesn’t pretend to offer the only way to plan for spill response or to know all there is to know about how to develop a workable spill contingency plan. The U.S. Navy has much experience in oil spill contingency planning and pollution response. It can offer advice in the development of such plans based on experience gained in over 20 years of its contingency planning efforts. However, the Black Sea is a unique region where a number of Navies can cooperatively work on new ideas regarding oil spill contingency planning and response. Such an effort is an important forum to forge strong bonds with new partners at sea.