June 2004
From ACP Advisory To Shipping No. A-25-2004 of 4 June 2004:
1. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) previously published the PCSOPEP requirements in Advisory A-28-2003, in a continuing effort to protect public health, the environment, and transiting vessels from any oil spill occurring in Panama Canal waters. Nevertheless, inquiries and concerns from interested parties in the international maritime community prompted the publishing of subsequent advisories in order to clarify concepts and ease the implementation process, to include the transitional deadlines required by the PCSOPEP. In order to review additional comments received from industry representatives, ACP Advisory A-49-2003 was published, which postponed the implementation of the PCSOPEP requirements until further notice.
2. Suggestions recommended by the international maritime community to PCSOPEP have resulted in changes to the Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) and the Qualified Individual (QI) requirements. These modifications were approved by the ACP’s Board of Directors under Agreement 78 on May 27, 2004, and thereby established the ACP to act as the sole OSRO to provide emergency response to oil spills in Canal waters. This action will entail obtaining additional equipment in sufficient quantities, through acquisition or contracting, and placing it in strategic locations along the waterway to adequately respond to these emergencies.
3. Another fundamental change to what was published in Advisory A-28-2003 is the replacement of the Qualified Individual concept by the Authorized Person. Besides being domiciled in the Republic of Panama and serving as the liaison between the vessel and the ACP, this individual shall be empowered to obtain and consign guarantees to the satisfaction of the ACP for spill response and clean up actions when an incident occurs.
4. This revision achieves PCSOPEP objectives with a concise chain of command in the emergency response process; however, it will require additional investments or expenditures on the part of the Panama Canal Authority. As a result, a fee will be assessed to transiting vessels with carrying capacity of 400 metric tons or more of oil as cargo and/or fuel. This fee, which will depend on the vessel’s tier classification and hull construction, will be published within the next two months, and will be available at http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/tariff/index.html. As in the past, in the event of an oil spill, all charges for actual response will be assessed.
5. The ACP appreciates the contributions made by the international maritime community in assisting to simplify the PCSOPEP implementation process, and hereby announces that the PCSOPEP requirements will be effective January 1, 2005. Please refer to document, Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan Requirements for a detailed description.
Update - October 2004
SOPEP Tariffs - Advisory 50-2004
Additional Information on SOPEP requirements and Tariffs - Advisory 52-2004
Update - September 2007
