Annexes to COM(2019)379 - EU position at the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Bonn Agreement on the Ministerial Declaration and the Bonn Agreement Strategic Action Plan (BASAP) 2019 - 2025

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances (OJ L 188, 16.7.1984, p. 7).

(3) Council Decision 93/540/EEC of 18 October 1993 approving certain amendments to the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances (Bonn Agreement) (OJ L 263, 22.10.1993, p. 51).



DRAFT Ministerial Declaration

Bonn, Germany 11 October 2019

WE THE MINISTERS AND THE MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, responsible for dealing with pollution of the Greater North Sea and its Approaches by oil and other harmful substances have met in Bonn on 11 October 2019 for the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Bonn Agreement in the presence of Intergovernmental Organisations and Observers from neighbouring regions;

ACKNOWLEDGING 50 years of successful cooperation within the framework of the Bonn Agreement and RECOGNISING the common benefit of further invigorating our cooperation to prevent, prepare for and respond to accidental and illegal marine pollution from maritime activities in the Greater North Sea and its Approaches;

WELCOMING the accession of Spain to the Bonn Agreement and the realignment of the Zone of Responsibility between France and Spain, following which the scope of the Bonn Agreement maritime area will include the Bay of Biscay;

AIMING to strengthen the protection of our coastal and marine environment from marine pollution as a result of activities in the Greater North Sea and its Approaches and the way in which we cooperate on pollution prevention, preparedness and response;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in regulating global shipping to protect the marine environment and human health, the development of an Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union and relevant EU legislation (1) in relation to marine pollution and incidents;

CONTINUING to coordinate the national efforts at a (sub-)regional scale, for the benefit of all and considering the reporting obligations by the Contracting Parties;

MAKING USE of widely accepted information systems that are defined as standard within competent international organisations;

NOTING both the continuing growth of maritime transport and other maritime activities such as offshore oil and gas exploitation and the fact that, despite the decrease in the number of observed spills during recent years, risks will always remain;

Have ADOPTED the following joint Declaration:

1.We have a vision of a Greater North Sea and its Approaches free from accidental, avoidable and deliberate pollution from shipping, offshore oil and gas operations and other maritime activities.

2.We welcome the regulations from IMO that have resulted in a reduction of marine pollution. Nevertheless, despite the wide range of measures taken in recent years, accidental and illegal pollution with substances other than oil remains a significant threat for the Greater North Sea and its Approaches.

3.We are acutely aware of the economic and social value of our marine and coastal environment and recognise that the costs of adequate resources for marine pollution prevention, preparedness and response are low compared to those arising from remediation after major pollution incidents.

4.We stress the importance of efficient maritime emergency prevention, preparedness and response. We reaffirm our commitment for active cooperation under the Bonn Agreement on planning, training and operational testing of emergency response systems, including joint operational response exercises. We recognise the importance of the overall European cooperation through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and in coordination with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

5.We welcome the well-established system for aerial and satellite surveillance of shipping, offshore oil and gas operations and other maritime activities in the Greater North Sea and its Approaches as an important aid for detecting possible pollution and discouraging illegal discharges at sea and implementing our commitments under the MARPOL Convention.

6.We welcome national and regional use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) established as new services for maritime surveillance, air emissions from maritime transport monitoring and pollution response and encourage the Contracting Parties to share knowledge and experience on their national RPAS systems and their role in enforcement practices.

7.We reaffirm our commitment to continue national flight programmes and joint operations such as Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operations (CEPCOs) and welcome the satellite imagery service provided by EMSA through CleanSeaNet as a contribution to better preparedness and prevention of pollution.

8.We welcome the development and continuous update of the Bonn Agreement manuals and codes, including the Counter Pollution Manual and Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code that provide unique information sources for pollution prevention, preparedness and response work and have been recognised globally in the context of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) and its Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Protocol.

9.We reaffirm our commitment to maintain and keep up to date the Bonn Agreement Joint Response Plans to maritime incidents (i.e. the DENGERNETH Plan, MANCHEPLAN, NORBRIT Plan, Quadripartite Zone Plan), providing an important tool to initiate response activities across borders immediately after an incident, irrespective of the national zone of responsibility in which the spill originated.

10.Recognising the changing risks from increasing transport of hazardous and noxious substances, larger ships, autonomous ships, new fuels, persistently high traffic densities, offshore oil and gas operations and other maritime activities, we note the importance of maintaining an adequate balance of resources for ensuring efficient pollution prevention and response work in the Greater North Sea and its Approaches. We agree that further development of response capacities in the Bonn Agreement area should be based on national and joint risk assessments.

11.We reaffirm our joint commitment to the prevention of marine pollution affecting air quality by collaboration on, and collective contribution to, implementation and enforcement of international marine pollution rules and standards, also ensuring a level playing field for economic operators. We reiterate the success of the implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/802 (2) reflecting the low sulphur requirements for SOx-Emission Control areas (0,10 % of maximum sulphur content as of 2015) and we recall as well the latest IMO commitments to ensure the consistent implementation of the global sulphur cap (0,50 % as of 2020) under Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention. The coordinated and robust enforcement regime for these requirements, including in the North Sea SOx-Emission Control Area, together with a high compliance rate of ships across the EU, resulted in significant reductions of sulphur dioxide pollution in coastal regions and cities. We welcome the development of our joint commitment to collectively contribute to the surveillance for the enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI, and the entry into force of the North Sea as a NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) Emission Control Area (NECA) from 2021. The Contracting Parties retain the right to freely choose their means of participation for the surveillance measures.

12.We recognise that provisions such as the designation of the North Sea as a Special Area under MARPOL Annexes I and V will not be effective unless properly enforced. In this context we welcome the successful work of the North Sea Network of Investigators and Prosecutors in promoting enforcement of pollution rules and standards and agree to continue cooperation with the Network on enforcement of all relevant Annexes to the MARPOL Convention.

13.We reaffirm our commitment for the proper implementation and enforcement of the Directive 2005/35/EC 3 on ship-source pollution infringement (as amended), in particular as regards monitoring and enforcement cooperation, the fulfilment of reporting obligations and effective penalties, including criminal penalties, for pollution offences.

14.We welcome the adoption of the revised Directive on Port Reception Facilities3 by the Council and the European Parliament and commit to exchange of information and to cooperate in order to prevent unlawful waste discharges at sea.

15.We welcome the adoption of the new output by IMO on ‘Evaluation and harmonization of rules and guidance on the discharge of liquid effluents from EGCS into waters, including conditions and areas’ as an important tool to gain a better understanding of the effects of washwater discharged by scrubbers/ exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) on the marine environment.

16.We stress the need for coordinated research and development programmes in order to ensure counter-pollution measures are executed with best available techniques and equipment when dealing with existing and future challenges, for example, the introduction and increased use of new fuels, designed to comply with increasing stringent emission regulations, appear to demand innovative response techniques. We reaffirm that decision making processes are supported by the best available knowledge, methods and supportive tools. We note the identification of priorities for Research and Development under the Bonn Agreement Strategic Action Plan 2019-2025.

17.We note the development of integrated approaches to maritime governance and the importance of strengthening our cooperation with the relevant maritime sectors and bodies in order to move towards more holistic management of our seas, with the objective of achieving good environmental status of marine waters in accordance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (3).

18.We welcome the ‘IMO Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships’ that aims to enhance the existing regulations and introduces new supporting measures to tackle the significant problem posed by marine plastics in the marine environment.

19.We reaffirm our commitment to cooperate with other competent international and regional organisations and bodies, in particular the International Maritime Organization (IMO), OSPAR and HELSINKI Commissions, Lisbon Agreement, Copenhagen Agreement, Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Arctic Council, with a view to share experience and good practices, and achieve our common goals.

In view of the above and as a strong commitment to pursue our vision, we attest the re-invigorated efforts to accomplish agreed objectives and to achieve better prevention, preparedness and response to marine pollution in the Greater North Sea and its Approaches and have ADOPTED the Bonn Agreement Strategic Action Plan 2019-2025, as in Annex 1, setting out ambitious strategic aims, operational objectives and actions for their implementation for the period 2019-2025.



(1) Norway is not a Member of the European Union. Norway contributes on the basis of equivalent national legislation and EU legislation by which they are bound as member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

(2) Commission report on implementation and compliance with the sulphur standards for marine fuels set out in Directive (EU) 2016/802, COM(2018) 188 final, 16.4.2018.

(3) Norway is not a Member of the European Union. Norway contributes on the basis of equivalent national legislation and EU legislation by which they are bound as member of the European Economic Area (EEA).



DRAFT Bonn Agreement Strategy Action Plan (BASAP)

2019-2025

Introduction

The core work of the Bonn Agreement is to cooperate regionally in preventing and combating marine pollution in the Greater North Sea from ships and offshore installations; to carry out surveillance as an aid to detecting and combating pollution at sea; cleaning up after maritime disasters and pollution offences. These are the achievements that come from 50 years’ scientific, technical and operational work of the Bonn Agreement. The Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement have cooperated to create great expertise in handling threats to the marine environment, and are ready to meet new challenges with the cooperation of Contracting Parties and engage with the international community.

The Bonn Agreement is the oldest regional agreement established by governments for responding to pollution incidents. The Agreement is the mechanism by which the North Sea States, and the European Union, work together to assist each other in combating pollution from maritime disasters and chronic pollution from ships and offshore installations in the North Sea Area. It was signed in 1969 by the eight states bordering the North Sea: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, shortly after the oil tanker ‘Torrey Canyon’ broke up off Cornwall in 1967 spilling 117 000 tonnes of oil in the first major pollution disaster affecting Western Europe. However, the Bonn Agreement was not activated until the late 1970s after two other major pollution incidents had occurred: the ‘Ekofisk’ blow-out in 1977 and the ‘Amoco Cadiz’ in 1978. The Agreement has continued to function effectively ever since and was extended in 1983 to include other harmful substances and in 1987 to cover cooperation in surveillance. Further expansion took place in 2010 when Ireland joined and the Agreement was widened to cover Irish waters and related Norwegian and UK waters.

Despite the overall decrease in the number of accidental oil spills in European waters, major accidental oil spills (i.e. those greater than 20 000 tonnes) still occur at irregular intervals. Although land-based discharges constitute the largest source of oil that enters the ocean each year, accidental oil spills are still a major source of pollution accounting for about 10-15 per cent of all oil that enters the ocean world-wide every year.

The BASAP 2019-2025 is intended to facilitate the implementation of the Bonn Agreement in order to contribute to the prevention of marine pollution at large and meet future challenges, like the inevitable paradigm shift in energy and natural resources markets, the environmental challenges that were identified by the Paris Agreement 2015 and the pressure on marine spatial planning that can introduce other risks at sea. Given these developments and the spectacular decrease of accidental oil spills in European waters over the last 30 years, oil spill responders have to broaden their focus from oil to all kinds of marine pollution that can be measured and/or cleaned. A key new challenge for the Bonn Agreement, identified through the SWOT analysis, will be on air pollution that is affecting the ecosystems and the health of citizens in coastal areas, with high population density (MARPOL Annex VI).

The BASAP 2019-2025 is implemented by its Contracting Parties by:

keeping their zones of responsibility under surveillance for threats of marine pollution, pollution of the related air space over the sea, including coordinating aerial and satellite surveillance;

alerting each other to such threats;

adopting common operational approaches, so that they can rely on each other to achieve the necessary standards of prevention and clean-up;

adopting common and coordinated operational approaches for the compliance monitoring and enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI;

supporting each other (when asked to do so) in response operations;

sharing research and development as well as good practices; and

carrying out joint exercises.

Vision

The vision of the Bonn Agreement is of:

A clean Greater North Sea without accidental and illegal pollution from shipping and other maritime activities

The Greater North Sea supports diverse and productive ecosystems and is essential for the daily lives of millions of people. Part of the Greater North Sea contains some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The vision of the Bonn Agreement is therefore to minimise as far as practically possible the threat of pollution from accidental and illegal pollution from ships and other maritime activities.

To achieve its vision the Bonn Agreement has agreed the following Strategic Aims:

(a)Identify and address emerging issues in the maritime sector at large effecting the marine environment within the scope of the Bonn Agreement;

Identify and evaluate emerging opportunities to reduce risks to the marine environment based on best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP)

Identify and evaluate new approaches to monitoring to ensure best available techniques and best environmental practices are followed;

Respond as appropriate to newly identified risks to the marine environment taking into account recommendations from OTSOPA; and

Make full use of the BE-AWARE projects I and II, to identify the most effective future risk reduction and response measures.

Strategic Aims

A. Prevention of illegal and accidental pollution by collaboration and collective enforcement of international maritime pollution rules and standards, including the compliance of MARPOL Annexes

Despite the wide range of measures taken in recent years, illegal and accidental pollution remains a significant threat for the Greater North Sea. Collaboration in their effective and efficient enforcement is a major tool in safeguarding the marine environment.

The international regulations on marine pollution come from the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which was updated in 1978. MARPOL was developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is aimed at preventing and minimising pollution from ships — both accidental and from routine operations with the following six technical annexes covering marine pollution by, see Annex I: Current MARPOL texts for Annex I to Annex VI

Annex I — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

Annex II — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk

Annex III — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form

Annex IV — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

Annex V — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships

Annex VI — Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships.

Common and coordinated operational approaches must be established for the compliance monitoring to ensure uniform and consistent implementation and enforcement of MARPOL Annexes and ,in particular, for the implementation and enforcement of the North Sea Emission Control Area (ECA) under MARPOL Annex VI for sulphur and nitrogen oxides as well as in view of the entering into force in 2020 of the global sulphur limit for ships sailing outside ECAs.

B. Promotion and establishment of efficient emergency preparedness

C. Organisation of optimum response capacities

Despite all efforts to increase maritime safety there will always be the risk of incidents. Increasing levels of maritime transportation and hazardous and noxious cargos are leading to increasing risk for the marine environment. Contracting Parties have already put considerable resources into adequate response capacities. To further improve efficiency, not least in financial terms, the further development of response capacities should be based on risk assessments, gap analysis and regional and sub-regional approaches. Coordinated research and development programmes are needed to ensure counter-pollution measures are executed with best available techniques and equipment.

To achieve its strategic aims the Bonn Agreement has agreed the following operational objectives:

Operational objectives:

Operational objectives in relation to Strategic Aim A (prevention):

A.ITo undertake adequate surveillance of shipping and maritime activities in the Greater North Sea and ensure efficient reporting of observations in the Bonn Agreement zones of responsibility;

A.IITo provide management and aircrew with up to date information on the planning and conduct of counter-pollution flights within the Bonn Agreement area;

A.IIITo ensure common operational approaches in the compliance monitoring of MARPOL Annexes;

A.IVTo ensure efficient gathering of evidence in the case of pollution incidents and close cooperation with investigators and prosecutors on enforcement of maritime pollution rules and standards in the Greater North Sea;

A.VTo communicate and disseminate information on the prevention of illegal and accidental pollution to the public and at expert level.

Objectives for the implementation of Strategic Aim B (preparedness):

B.ITo establish common understanding of the way in which it is appropriate to respond to maritime emergencies and ensure awareness of national contingency systems and strategies;

B.IITo maintain an adequate level of training of response staff and cooperation between combating units of the Contracting Parties and promote the preparedness for efficient multinational combating operations;

B.IIITo ensure that response action by Contracting Parties is properly formulated to safeguard the marine environment and that priorities are established on the most appropriate basis;

B.IVTo cooperate with other international and European organisations as well as neighbouring maritime regions in order to identify synergies and avoid duplications.

Objectives for the implementation of Strategic Aim C (response):

C.ITo ensure that Contracting Parties have clear understanding of the ways in which the others respond to incidents, in order to promote the development of best practice;

C.IITo maintain and keep up to date common operational approaches to pollution incidents and promote the development of and common understanding of appropriate response strategies;

C.IIITo promote coordinated research and development programmes on response technologies, equipment and other operational means;

C.IVTo ensure that an adequate balance of resources for response work, based on sub-regional risk-assessments, is held across the North East Atlantic area.

Actions

To achieve the Vision, Strategic Aims and Operational Objectives, the following Bonn Agreement Strategy Action Plan (BASAP) sets out specific measurable actions and realistic targets for the period 2019-2025, to guide and focus the work of Contracting Parties. The BASAP acknowledges the need to maintain well established systems and to continue work in hand necessary to continue the operational nature of the Agreement. At the same time opportunities to enhance these efforts and to develop new directions are articulated.

The Bonn Agreement has agreed the following actions:

Actions in relation to Strategic Aim A (prevention):

A.1Execute aerial and satellite surveillance operations, including national flights, regional flights, Tour d’Horizon flights and CEPCO/SuperCEPCO flights, to detect, investigate, gather evidence and monitor spillage of oil and other harmful substances;

A.2Maintain an efficient Standard Reporting System and to use the system to report detected pollution to the Bonn Agreement as well as to the Commission in the framework of Directive 2005/35/EC on Ship Source Pollution and to IMO;

A.3In cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency make optimum use of satellite imagery and responding to the latest developments in the area of High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) made available to Greater North Sea states and establish a harmonised system throughout the Greater North Sea to improve detection of pollution incidents;

A.4Strengthen cooperation on the detection of offences in relation to MARPOL Annex V and enforcement: V

A.5Strengthen cooperation on the detection of offences in relation to MARPOL Annex VI and enforcement, including through the existing port state control enforcement regime, as well as applying advanced targeting tools for compliance monitoring and sharing the outcome of enforcement actions in common information systems (e.g. Thetis-EU);

A.6Maintain and keep up to date the Aerial Operations Handbook and BAOAC Atlas;

A.7In cooperation with the North Sea Network of Investigators and Prosecutors (NSN) maintain and keep up to date the North Sea Manual on Maritime Oil Pollution Offences;

A.8Cooperate through OSINET on oil spill identification, including inter-calibration exercises of laboratories and further development of a common oil spill identification methods;

A.9Strengthen cooperation with investigators and prosecutors:
a.by 2022 — in cooperation with the NSN identify options for giving publicity to convictions for maritime pollution offences;

b.by 2025 — in cooperation with the NSN establish procedures whereby environmental track-records of relevant shipping companies and ship-operating companies can be made available to the public.

A.10Liaise with IMO to determine how the Bonn Agreement can further contribute to compliance of with MARPOL Annex VI taking into account the latest IMO developments regarding the implementation of the 2020 global sulphur cap (e.g. reinforced port state control regime, as well as the carriage ban for combustion purposes of fuels with sulphur content above 0,50 %);

A.11Support process through IMO-MEPC for the review of MARPOL Annex II discharge conditions for high-viscosity and solidifying substances.

A.12Maintain and keep up to date the Bonn Agreement website and dissemination of electronic publications (i.e. manuals, handbooks and reports);

A.13Support/promote recommendations on preventive measures of the BE -AWARE projects.

Actions in relation to Strategic Aim B (preparedness):

B.1Maintain and update the Chapters of the Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual to make it applicable to needs;

B.2Promote information exchange on potentially polluting wrecks and the development of national databases;

B.3Plan and undertake regional and sub-regional operational exercises and training;

B.4Promote the development of national environmental advice systems and related exchanges of information;

B.5Maintain information exchange with other regional and international organisations, in particular the UCPM (Union Civil Protection Mechanism), EMSA, EPPR (Arctic Council), HELCOM, IMO, OSPAR Commission, Lisbon Agreement and REMPEC through attendance at Inter-Secretariat meetings, and where useful strengthen cooperation with these organisations, such as with regard to the joint development of a HNS Response Manual.

B.6Strengthen cooperation with the OSPAR Commission and other international organisations involved in protecting the marine environment from pollution and offshore installations;

B.7Developing of HNS strategy for the cooperation with other international organisations for example HELCOM/EMSA/CTGto implement OPRC principles on HNS;

B.8Liaise with IMO to determine how the Bonn Agreement can further contribute to strengthening international OPRC-HNS-protocol implementation;

B.9To continue to evolve response capacity based on environmental risk analysis to keep up with the changing maritime risk.

Actions in relation to Strategic Aim C (response):

C.1Maintain a system of pollution incident reporting and identification of lessons learned;

C.2Maintain and keep upto date joint response plans to maritime incidents (DENGERNETH Plan, MANCHEPLAN, Quadripartite Zone Plan, NorBrit Plan [Bay of Biscay Plan]);

C.3Strengthen the development of joint approaches to wildlife response, including identification of best practice and communication of wildlife response work to the public;

C.4Sharing lessons identified and learned from pollution response in offshore wind parks;

C.5Promote research and development and information exchange on response technologies, equipment and other operational means, in particular on integrated surveillance sensors, response technology to respond to accidents at night and in bad visibility, under bad weather conditions, on the detection and recovery of containers lost at sea, accidents involving heavy oil and chemical accidents, and on accidents involving new generations fuels;

C.6Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung sowie des Informationsaustauschs in Bezug auf Einsatztechnologien, Ausrüstung und sonstige operative Mittel, insbesondere integrierte Überwachungssensoren, Technologie für die Reaktion auf Unfälle bei Nacht und schlechter Sicht, bei schlechtem Wetter, sowie für Nachweis und Bergung von auf See verlorenen Containern, Unfälle mit Schweröl und chemischen Substanzen sowie Unfälle, an denen Kraftstoffe der neuen Generation beteiligt sind;

C.7Promote research on joint research priorities: by 2019-22 to develop a joint research proposal on new generation fuels;

C.8Promote exchanges of information on national risk assessment systems, including emergency towing.



Addendum 1

Tasks 1-18 in relation to Strategic Aim A (prevention):

TaskStrategic

Action
DescriptionTarget dateLeadProgressStatus
1A.1Execute aerial and satellite surveillance operations, including national flights, regional flights, Tour d’Horizon flights and CEPCO/SuperCEPCO flights, to detect, investigate, gather evidence and monitor spillage of oil and other harmful substances, taking into account strategic surveillance needs.Activities undertaken throughout the yearCPOngoing
2A.1Maintain coverage and efficiency of aerial surveillance and analyse strategically surveillance needs, inter alia based on an evaluation of existing data sets of detections of observed oil pollution and other substances.CPCleanSeaNet — EMSA

Fisheries — EU Agency EFCA

NL — Task manager w/ CP

NL to draft and circulate to HoDs

BE — MARPOL Annex VI.
3A.3

A.4

A.5
Consider developing minimum recommendations on surveillance operations in the Bonn Agreement area and outcomes expected (MARPOL VI, Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems).EU (for options on streamlining maritime surveillance e.g. for fisheries and pollution purposes)

BE — Co lead (Annex VI)

EU — Drones
Initial MARPOL Annex VI discussions started at OTSOPA 19.

EMSA started with operational RPAS service.
Ongoing
4A.2Maintain an efficient standard of monitoring and reporting, utilising the appropriate system to report detected pollution to the Bonn Agreement.Activities undertaken when requiredCPOngoing
5A.3In cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency make optimum use of satellite images, e.g. through CleanSeaNet, in order to follow-up to first alert of detection of possible pollution through aerial surveillance.

and
Activities undertaken when requiredCPOngoing
6A.3Report on and respond to developments of High Altitude Pseudo Satelites (HAPS)and Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).Activities undertaken when requiredCPEU/EMSA - HAPS & RPASOngoing
8A.13Supporting/promoting the implementation of Traffic Separation Schemes, and highlight other BE-AWARE recommendations in relation to Vessel Traffic Services, AIS in Windfarms and E-Navigation, to authorities responsible for risk reduction measures.OngoingCPIreland, Norway and NL have had workshopsDifferent national departments are responsible for implementation.
9A.6

B.I
Maintain and keep up to date the Aerial Operations Handbook.Annually at OTSOPANO & CPOngoing
10A.6

B.I
Maintain the online version of the Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code (BAOAC), including photo atlas, for air crew and expert level as part of the Bonn Agreement website redevelopment.Activities undertaken when requiredFR & CPOngoing
11A.4

A.5

A.10
Strengthen and expand cooperation on the detection and observation of offences in relation to MARPOL Annexes and the contribution to enforcement and liaise with IMO.OngoingCP/NSN/SecOngoing
12A.5

A.10
Consider the development of a common technical strategy and operational approach for monitoring compliance for NOx and SOx.BE, DK (tbc), FR

NL? EMSA (tbc)
New
13A.7

A.9
Strengthen cooperation with the North Sea Network of Investigators and Prosecutors (NSN) and jointly:

a. maintain and keep up to date the North Sea Manual on Maritime Oil Pollution Offences;

b. arrange workshops for subjects of mutual interest;

c. assist, where useful, in the publicity of convictions and establish environmental track records for shipping companies.
NL/SecPossible subjects for seminar 2019-25:

HNS

Marine Litter
Ongoing
14A.8Continue the activities of OSINET in order to:

a. improve knowledge and experience of relevant laboratories regarding oil spill forensics, including through inter-calibration exercises; and

b. keep/develop up to date analytical procedures and reference methods, including for oil sampling at sea
DE/OSINETOngoing
15A.12

B.1
Maintain and keep up to date the Bonn Agreement website and dissemination of electronic publications (i.e. manuals, handbooks and reports).Activity undertaken when requiredSec/CPSecretariat to investigate possibility of maintaining source of decisions/actions.Ongoing
17.A.2Review existing recommendations for notifications and make necessary adjustments when required.Activity undertaken when requiredCPNew
18A.12Implement the Bonn Agreement Communication Strategy.SecOngoing

Tasks 19-30 in relation to Strategic Aim B (Preparedness):

TaskStrategic ActionDescriptionTarget dateLeadProgressStatus
19B.1

A.12
Maintain and update the different Chapters of the Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution ManualActivity undertaken when requiredCP & SecOngoing
20B.2Continue exchange of information on potentially polluting wrecks (methods for emptying, assessing risk, etc).Activity undertaken when requiredCPOngoing
21B.4

B.5
Enhance readiness to receive/offer/transit international assistance making use of the EU Host Nation Support Guidelines.OngoingCP & EUOngoing
22B.3Plan and undertake regional and sub-regional operational exercises and training, taking into account strategic needs.CPOngoing
23B.3Organise joint operational combat exercises (BONNEX DELTA), in relation to regional strategic training needs.CP as per JAPOngoing
24B.3Establish a system for graduated joint exercises to test and train cooperation in combating spillages.OngoingDKDK has military expertise and use this to provide support for exercises.
25B.4Promote the development of national environmental advice systems and related exchanges of information. Consider establishing means of cooperative working (subregional)OTSOPA 2020UKOngoing
26B.5

B.7

B.8
Strengthen cooperation with REMPEC and HELCOM on the development of a joint HNS Response ManualSEC, FR,New
27B.6Strengthen cooperation with the OSPAR Commission, regional agreements and other international organisations involved in protecting the marine environment from pollution from shipping, offshore oil and gas operations and other maritime activities, taking into account the obligations under the Marine Strategy Framework and the Water Framework Directives  (1).SEC, BE & NL; CP (info exchange on MSFD implementation)SEC to contact OSPAR on MSFD obligation D8 regarding monitoring and assessment of significant acute pollution, and report to OTSOPA 2020

BONN 19 to consider reciprocal BA/HELCOM attendance at key meetings. (cf. BAAP 2016-19, Product A.3.3)
New
29B.9trend analysis of the BE-AWARE Project 2030.

Evaluate and follow up on the outcomes.
OngoingNL & CPNew
30B.9Exchange information/experiences on the increasing size of vessels, renewable energy, offshore oil and gas industry, LNG fuels and port expansions, autonomous ships and radioactive materials.CPNew

Tasks 31-40 in relation to Strategic Aim C (Response):

TaskStrategic ActionDescriptionTarget dateLeadProgressStatus
31C.1

C.4.
Exchange information on lessons learned on incidents including in windfarms, places of refuge and waste management following pollution incidents.OTSOPA

BONN
CPOngoing
32C.1

C.5
Maintain an efficient POLREP-system for the reporting of pollution incidents and the management of requests for and offers of assistance utilising the Marine Pollution Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS MP) of the European Commission.OngoingEU, NO, DK6 month project with two workshops & nine countries.Ongoing
33C.2Develop, maintain and keep up to date joint response plans to maritime incidents (DENGERNETH Plan (DE), MANCHEPLAN (UK & FR), Quadripartite Zone Plan (BE), NORBRIT Plan (UK & NO), UK and Ireland MOU), [Bay of Biscay].Activity undertaken when requiredCP concernedOngoing
34C.3Maintain information exchange on national wildlife response systemsOngoing— FR, SE & CPOngoing
35C.7

C.6
Encourage and, if possible, carry out/perform research and development, and information exchange regarding new generation fuels.NO+Project partners[Proposal for DG-ECHO Call in 2019Ongoing
36C.7

C.6
Responses and preparedness in regards to new generation fuelsNO + project partnersBased on response from 35
37C.6Exchange information on and encourage further research of pollution incidents including: :

on accidents at night, in bad visibility and under bad weather conditions;

on accidents involving heavy oil and chemical accidents, possibly through externally funded projects;

on response technologies, equipment and other operational means, in particular on integrated surveillance sensors, oil spill drift modelling and decision-support tools, and response technologies.
CPOngoing
39C.6Consideration and development of a project proposal for a regional risk assessment for HNS.CP & SecOngoing
40C.6Promote continued research on HNS, inter alia on HNS response technologies, testing of HNS properties and behaviour in non-standard conditions, and further developments in, and validation of advanced decision-support tools.CPOngoing
41C.8.Exchange of information on national risk assessment systems, including emergency towing.Activities undertaken when requiredCPNew



(1) Norway is not a member of the European Union. Norway contributes on the basis of equivalent national legislation and EU legislation by which they are bound as member of the European Economic Area (EEA).



Annex I

Current MARPOL texts

Current MARPOL texts for Annex I to Annex VI and Protocol 1.

MARPOL includes regulations aimed at preventing accidental pollution, and pollution from routine operations detailed in six technical annexes.

(b)   Annex I — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 March 2018 — Resolution MEPC.276(70)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to Form B of the Supplement to the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2017 — Resolution MEPC.266(68)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to regulation 12 — tanks for oil residue (sludge))

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2017 — Resolution MEPC.265(68)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V to make the use of the environment-related provisions of the polar code mandatory)

Amendment to MARPOL Annex I — entry into force 1 March 2016 — Resolution MEPC.256(67)

Amendment to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendment to regulation 43 — Special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic area)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.248(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annex 1 mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument) — MEPC 66/21/Corr.1

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.246(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2015 — Resolution MEPC.238(65)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I and II to make the RO code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 October 2014 — Resolution MEPC.235(65)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to form A and form B of supplements to the IOPP certificate under MARPOL Annex I)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 August 2013 — Resolution MEPC.216(63)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Regional Arrangements for Port Reception Facilities under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 August 2011 — Resolution MEPC.190(60)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (North American Emission Control Area)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 August 2011 — Resolution MEPC.189(60)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Addition of a new chapter 9 to MARPOL Annex I)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2011 — Resolution MEPC.187(59)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to regulations 1, 12, 13, 17 and 38 of MARPOL Annex I, Supplement to the IOPP Certificate and Oil Record Book Parts I and II)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 January 2011 — Resolution MEPC.186(59)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Addition of a new chapter 8 to MARPOL Annex I and consequential amendments to the Supplement to the IOPP Certificate, Form B).

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 December 2008 — Resolution MEPC.164(56)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Reception facilities outside special areas and discharge of sewage)

Amendments to Annex I — entry into force 1 August 2007 — Resolution MEPC.141(54)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to regulation 1, addition to regulation 12A, consequential amendments to the IOPP Certificate and amendments to regulation 21 of the revised Annex I of MARPOL)

Text of Annex I of MARPOL — as at 1 January 2007 — Resolution MEPC.117(52)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Revised annex I of MARPOL)

(c)   Annex II — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk

Amendments to MARPOL Annex II — entry into force 1 September 2017 — Resolution MEPC.270(69)

Amendments to the Annex of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Amendments to MARPOL Annex II —Revised GESAMP Hazard Evaluation Procedure)

Amendments to Annex II — entry into force 1 January 2017 — Resolution MEPC.265(68)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V to make the use of the environment related provisions of the Polar Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex II — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.246(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex II — entry into force 1 January 2015 — Resolution MEPC.238(65)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I and II to make the RO code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex II — entry into force 1 August 2013 — Resolution MEPC.216(63)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Regional Arrangements for Port Reception Facilities under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V)

Text of Annex II of MARPOL — as at 1 January 2007 — Resolution MEPC.118(52) (as amended)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Revised Annex II of MARPOL)

International Bulk Chemical (IBC) Code given effect by Annex II Regulation 11 — tankers constructed on or after 1 July 1986 — Resolution MEPC.119(52)

Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)

Resolution MEPC.225(64) Amendments to Chapters 17, 18 and 19 which entered into force 1 June 2014

BLG.1/Circ.19 Products which have been classified or re-classified since the adoption of the amended IBC Code in 2004

BLG.1 Circ.19/Corr.1 Products which have been classified or re-classified since the adoption of the amended IBC Code in 2004

Bulk Chemical (BCH) Code given effect by Annex II Regulation 11 — tankers constructed before 1 July 1986 — Resolution MEPC.144(54)

Amendments to the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code)

(d)   Annex III — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form

Amendment to MARPOL Annex III — (Amendment to the appendix on criteria for the identification of harmful substances in packaged form) enter into force 1 March 2016 — Resolution MEPC.257(67)

Amendment to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973

Amendments to Annex III — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.246(66)

Text of Annex III of MARPOL — as at 1 January 2014 — Resolution MEPC.193(61)

Text of Annex III of MARPOL — as at 1 January 2010 — Resolution MEPC.156(55)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

(e)   Annex IV — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 September 2017 — Resolution MEPC.274(69)

Amendments to the Annex of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV —Baltic Sea Special Area and Form of ISPP Certificate)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 January 2017 — Resolution MEPC.265(68)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V to make the use of the environment-related provisions of the Polar Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.246(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 August 2013 — Resolution MEPC.216(63)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Regional Arrangements for Port Reception Facilities under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 January 2013 — Resolution MEPC.200(62)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Special Area Provisions and the Designation of the Baltic Sea as a Special Area under MARPOL Annex IV)

MEPC 62/24/Corr.1 — contains several corrections to Resolutions MEPC.200(62)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 December 2008 — Resolution MEPC.164(56)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Reception facilities outside special areas and discharge of sewage)

Amendments to Annex IV — entry into force 1 August 2007 — Resolution MEPC.143(54)

Amendments to the Annex of the protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Addition of regulation 13 to Annex IV of MARPOL)

Text of Annex IV of MARPOL — as at 1 August 2005 — Resolution MEPC.115(51)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Revised Annex IV of MARPOL)

(f)   Annex V — Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships

Text of Annex V of MARPOL — as at 31 December 1988

Amendments to Annex V — entry into force 1 March 2018 — Resolution MEPC.277(70)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annex V — HME substances and Form of Garbage Record Book)

Amendments to Annex V — entry into force 1 January 2017 — Resolution MEPC.265(68)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V to make the use of the environment-related provisions of the Polar Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex V — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.246(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex V — entry into force 1 August 2013 — Resolution MEPC.216(63)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Regional Arrangements for Port Reception Facilities under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V)

Amendments to Annex V — entry into force 1 January 2013 — Resolution MEPC.201(62)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Revised MARPOL Annex V)

MEPC 62/24/Corr.1 — contains several corrections to Resolutions MEPC.201(62)

Amendments to Annex V of MARPOL — entry into force 1 August 2005 — Resolution MEPC.116(51)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to the Appendix to Annex V of MARPOL)

Amendments to Annex V of MARPOL — entry into force 1 March 2002 — Resolution MEPC.89(45)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to Annex V of MARPOL)

Amendments to Annex V of MARPOL — entry into force 1 January 1997 — Resolution MEPC.65(37)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to Regulation 2 and new Regulation 9 of Annex V)

(g)   Annex VI — Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 January 2019 — Resolution MEPC 286(71)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (to give effect to the Baltic Sea and North Sea NOx Emission Control Area and amend the Bunker Delivery Note)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 March 2018 — Resolution MEPC.278(70)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Data collection system for fuel oil consumption of ships)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 September 2017 — Resolution MEPC.271(69)

Amendments to the Annex of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Amendments to regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI — Record requirements for operational compliance with NOx Tier III emission control areas)

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI — entry into force 1 March 2016 — Resolution MEPC.258(67)

Amendment to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Amendments to regulations 2 and 13 and the Supplement to the IAPP Certificate)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 January 2016 — Resolution MEPC.247(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (to make the use of the III Code mandatory)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 March 2015 — Resolution MEPC.251(66)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Amendments to regulations 2, 13, 19, 20 and the Supplement to the IAPP Certificate under MARPOL Annex VI and certification of dual-fuel engines under the NOx Technical Code 2008)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 August 2013 — Resolution MEPC.217(63)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Regional Arrangements for port Reception Facilities under MARPOL Annex VI and Certification of Marine Diesel Engines fitted with selective catalytic reduction systems under the NOx Technical Code 2008)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 January 2013 — Resolution MEPC.203(62)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Inclusion of Regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships)

MEPC 62/24/Corr.1 — contains several corrections to Resolutions MEPC.203(62)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 January 2013 — Resolution MEPC.202(62)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Designation of the Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area)

MEPC 62/24/Corr.1 — contains several corrections to Resolutions MEPC.202(62)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 February 2012 — Resolution MEPC.194(61)

Amendments to the annex of the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Revised form of Supplement to the IAPP Certificate)

Amendments to Annex VI — entry into force 1 August 2011 — Resolution MEPC.190(60)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (North American Emission Control Area)

Text of Annex VI of MARPOL — as at 1 July 2010 — Resolution MEPC.176(58)

Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (Revised MARPOL Annex VI)