Places of Refuge (PoR):

PoR: Background Information Summary click here

PoR: General click here

Emergency Response to Maritime Related Incidents

As part of the Pollution and Incidence Response Unit (PIRU) duties, Officers are required as requested or following feedback by Inspectors (P&YD Inspectorate Unit) to go on-site in case of smaller-scale maritime-related incidents.  The actions associated with the latter include (1) initial assessment of the incident, (2) ascertaining correct responsetake place by the appropriate individuals or entitiesand overseeing or coordinating all necessary action, (3) liaising with third parties such as Terminal and Facility Operators, Civil Protection and Malta Environment and Planning Authority as necessary (4) determining that sufficient action has been taken to declare the incident closedand(5) compiling a report or recording the incident. 

The PIRU is also involved in the CleanSeaNet initiative and the CleanSeaNet user group set up by the European Maritime Safety Agency where satellite technology is utilized to localize oil pollution at sea. Presently Transport Malta is the National Competent Authority for this measure.  For more information on CleanSeaNet please click here: http://cleanseanet.emsa.europa.eu/

Malta's preparedness to response to a maritime incident

With respect to preparedness and response to large scale incidenti.e. an incident that a single terminal or entity may not be able to handle, the PIRU is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the National Marine Pollution Contingency Plan (NMPCP)and the maintenance and operation of offshore Oil Response Equipment newly acquired through the EEA Financial Mechanism.  For the project description see http://www.dca.gov.mt/Page.aspx?pageid=960&lid=1 and for more information on EEA Grants see: http://eeagrants.org.  An annual full-scale oil pollution response exercise in collaboration with the European Maritime Safety Agencyis carried out as part of ongoing oil and HNS spill response training.

Provision of Port Reception Facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues

Form TM PYD 215 Waste Exemption Application Form Issue 2

The Port Reception Facilities for Ship-generated Waste and Cargo Residues legal notice (S.L. 499.30

http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11352) has been transposed from 2000/59/EC (For more informationon 2000/59/EC, please see here: 

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/waste_management/l24199_en.htm).

The legislation requires that adequate port reception for ship-generated waste, i.e. waste that is generated through the normal operations of the ship, be provided to vessels (size and passenger restriction applies) both calling internationally or based locally in order to deliver the latter without causing undue delay to the vessel.  Providing port reception faculties for ship-general wastes and cargo residues helps in preventing the dumping of waste from ships in particular oils and plastics (both strictly illegal).  The main actions and deliverables associated with the implementation of this directive include:

• Ascertaining that all terminals as defined by the respective subsidiary legislation implement a valid Waste Management Plan officially approved by TM as prescribed by First Schedule (Schedule I)
• Providing information to terminals that are required to have a valid Waste Management Plan in place.
• Planning and executing inspections; at least one (1) annual inspection per terminal takes place.
• Revision of necessary strategic documents such as the Departmental Operating Procedure and accompany forms
• Issuing and keeping track of exemptions
• Reporting or providing information as required to third parties in particular regulatory bodies
• Attendance to relevant meetings

The legislation directive also reflects measures found in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) to which Malta is a signatory.

(http://www.imo.org/about/conventions/listofconventions/pages/international-convention-for-the-prevention-of-pollution-from-ships-(marpol).aspx) in particular Annex I (Oil), Annex IV (Sewage) and Annex V (Garbage). Thus, the implementation of the legislation supports in part the implementation of MARPOL.

For further queries on the implementation of the Port Reception Facilities Directive, kindly contact the Pollution Incident Response Unit (+356 2122 2203 – TM Reception)

Other Matters

Apart from the main duties carried out as listed above, additional work is carried out by the PIRUthat includes handling participation in projects, aspects of environmental issues with respect to ports and shipping, delivery of internal training including refresher training and occasional delivery of  lectures to external entities upon request.  Ongoing projects and examples of such work include:

1. Calypso Project (ongoing)  http://oceania.research.um.edu.mt/cms/calypsoweb/index.php?lang=en
2. Representation on several committees and working groups
3. Attendance to relevant meetings and workshops related to pollution prevention and control and environmental issues.
4. Liaison with national entities including other Authorities and Departments
5. Liaison with regional and international entities such as the European Maritime Safety Agency and the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea
6. Shipping, Ports and Environmental Issues ( e.g. reviewing environmental legislation and policies that affect directly or indirectly port and shipping activity at a national level).

List of relevant authorities or entities:

European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) - Website:  http://www.emsa.europa.eu/

European Seaports Organisation (ESPO) – Website:  http://www.espo.be/

Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) – Website: http://www.rempec.org/

International Maritime Organisation – Website: www.imo.org