Western European PSSA - Mandatory Reporting For All Tankers Carrying Heavy Grade Oils

With effect from 1 July 2005 the West European Tanker Reporting System (WETREP) comes into force in the Western European Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA).

The regime was formally adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of IMO at its 79th session in December 2004 and is part of the overall package of measures adopted by IMO following the Prestige spill off the coast of Northern Spain in November 2002 (these include an accelerated phase out timetable for single hull tankers and are set out in a summary of the 50th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) - 1 and 4 December 2003.

Ships required to participate in the mandatory ship reporting system WETREP: 

Every kind of oil tanker of more than 600 tonnes deadweight, carrying a cargo of: 

• heavy crude oil, meaning crude oils with a density at 15°C of higher than 900 kg/m3; 
• heavy fuel oils, meaning fuel oils with a density at 15°C of higher than 900 kg/m3, or a kinematic viscosity at 50°C of higher than 180 mm2/s; 
• bitumen and tar and their emulsions. 

(Pursuant to SOLAS, the mandatory ship reporting system WETREP does not apply to any warship, naval auxiliary or other vessel owned or operated by a contracting government and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service.) 

The geographical coverage of the system, the content of the report and the time at which and place from where it should be sent are all detailed on the IMO website.