ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(80)361
Vol.1980/0129

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
»
COM(80 )361 final
Brussels ,26th June 1980
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION TOTHE COUNCIL
CONCERNING APLAN TOCOMBAT OIL POLLUTION OFTHE SEA
'* '
COM (80)361 final

CONTENTS
Page
1.Introduction 1
2.ActionProgramme 1
3.Information 3
4.Equipment Spécifications 4
5.Contingency Programmes / 4
6.Community SupportforPilotSchemes 5
7.Coordination ofNational andCommunity Policies !5"
Setting upanAdvisory Committee
Annex1:Proposal foraCouncilDecisionestablishing aCommunity
Information SystemforthePrevention andCombating
ofOilPollution oftheSea.
Annex2:DraftCommission Decisionsetting upaCommittee onthe
ControlandReduction ofPollution causedbyOildischarged
atSea.

Introduction
For along time now >the Council and the Commission ofthe European
Communities have attached importance tothe serious pollution risks
tothe coastal areas ofthe Member States and the surrounding seas
arising from oilspills .TheFirst Action Programme ofthe European
Communities onthe Environment emphasized that itwasofparamount
importance toWestern Europe that effective action betaken against
the dangers inherent inthecarriage ofoil,including thethreat of
serious coastal pollution asaresult ofaccidents offshore (1),and
the Second Environment Programme stated that theprotection ofsea
water inorder toensure the maintenance ofvital ecological balances
isapriority task (2).
These concerns were setout ingreater detail inthe Commission 's
Communication onMeasures for the Prevention ,Control and Reduction
ofPollution caused byAccidental Discharges ofHydrocarbons into the
Seawhich was submitted tothe Council together with adraft Resolu­
tion after amassive blow-out ofgas andoil occurred atadrilling
rigintheEkofisk field on22April 1977 (3).
The urgent need for large-scale action bythe Community tocombat oil
spills was underlined after the wreck ofthe ,Amoco Cadiz on16March
1978 whose 223 00tcargo polluted the coast ofBritanny .The
European Council ,atitsmeeting on7and 8April 1978,took the view
that theprevention and combating ofmarine pollution ,inparticular
byoil,should beamajor objective ofaction bythe Community .On
27April 1978,the Commission approved apaper onMarine Pollution
arising from the Carriage ofOil (4). The measures proposed inthis
document related mainly tothe Community 'stransport ,research and
environment policies .This Communication concerns the environmental
aspect the importance ofwhich ,asregards the Member States ,has
been highlighted byseveral recent accidents (Eleni V,Betelgeuse ,.
Tanio ).
Action Programme
On26June 1978,the Council set upanAction Programme ofthe
European Communities onthe Control and Reduction ofPollution caused
byHydrocarbons discharged atSea (5).
(1)0JNo C112,20December 1973,p. 1
(2)0JNo C139,13June 1977,p..1
(3)COM(77)265 Final ,9June 1977
(4)COM(78)184Final ,27April 1978
(5)0JNo C162,8July 1978,p. 1■'L

Inaccordance with this Programme ,the Commission has undertaken
studies onthefollowing matters : - ;
1. Computer processing oftheexisting data,ordata still tobe
collected ,onways ofdealing with marine pollution byhydro­
carbons with aview tothe immediate use ofsuch data inthe
event ofaccidental pollution ;
2.Theavailability fortheMember States ofrelevant data on
tankers liable topollute the waters around the Community and
the coasts ofthe Member States and onoff-shore structures
under thejurisdiction ofthe Member States .
3. The need for measures toenhance the cooperation andeffective­
ness ofthe emergency teams which have been orwhich are tobe .
set upinthe Member States .•
4. Apossible Community contribution tothe design and development
ofclean-up vessels towhich may befitted the equipment needed
for theeffective treatment ofdischarged hydrocarbons .
5. The amendments and improvements which may have tobemade tothe
legal rules oninsurance against therisks ofaccidental
pollution from hydrocarbons . '
The Commission also did thegroundwork for areview ofthe Second
Multiannual Research and Development Programme for the European
Economic Community inthe Environmental Field (Indirect Action )in
order tocover ,among other things ,theeffects ofhydrocarbons ,
decontamination methods and chemical and mechanical techniques for
collecting and/ordispersing oilspills from surface waters and
beaches .The Counci Iapproved the review ofthis Programme on
9October 1979 (6).
.5 .• " ' ' •
Where direct action isconcerned ,theJoint Research Centre has pro-,
posed the inclusion initsMultiannual Research Programme for the
period 1980-1983 ofaproject for thesurveillance ofthe Mediterranean
Sea using various techniques (such asremote sensing )focusing mainly
onoilpollution .The Council approved this programme proposal on
13March 1980 (6a).
, /
The findings ofthe abovementioned studies have been assessed with
the help ofexperts designated bythe Member States .Thefirst con­
clusion isthat the Community needs anInformation System covering
thefollowing (thespecific details will vary from case tocase):
(a)staff ,and mechanical and chemical means available inthe
Member States tocombat pollution ofthe seas surrounding the '
Community ; . .
(6)0JNoL258,13October 1979,p.29,and 0JNo C276,2.11.79 p.5
(6a)0JNoL72,13March 1980,p.11

(b)characteristics oftankers,andanyinfringements theymay
havecommitted intheterritorial watersoftheMemberStates
inthelightofexisting international agreements andconventions
(c)regional andnational contingency plansdrawnupattheinsti­
gationofthecompetent authorities intheMemberStates;
(d)thephysico-chemical ,toxicological andecotoxicological
properties ofhydrocarbons ,andappropriate treatment methods.
Secondly,theCommunity shoulddefinethespecifications ofthe
physical andchemical meansusedtocombatoilpollution,inorder
tomakethemmorecompatible witheachother,andinorderto
rationalize theiruse.
Thestudiescarriedouthavealsomadeitpossible toreachsome
conclusions astothemethodology tobefollowed bytheMember
Statesindrawing upContingency Planstodealwithlarge-scale
oilpollution .TheCommission willbesubmitting totheCcfuncil a
proposal foraDirective onthismatterbeforetheendoftheyear.
Theabovementioned measures needtobebackedupbyfinancial support
forinitiatives whichallthoseresponsible forcombating oil
pollution coulddrawonforinspiration .Initsproposed 1981Budget
theCommission hastherefore madeprovision forintervention appro­
priations fortraining schemes,pilotexperiments andtheopeningof
equipment testingcentres.
TheCommission intendstoworkcloselywiththeMemberStatesin
implementing theabovementioned measures .Italso,wantstobe
informed oftheviewsandexperience oftheMemberStatesand,as
aresult,facilitate thecoordination ofnational,international
andCommunity measures .Withthisaiminview,itrecently setup
aCommittee ontheControl andReduction ofPollution causedby
Oildischarged atSea.TheCommission Decisionsetting upthis
Committee isattached . .
Information
establishing aCommunity Information
andCombating ofOilPollution oftheSea
Theproposal provides for:
l(a)apermanent inventory ofstaff,equipment andproducts for
combating oilpollution oftheseaandacompendium of
national andregional contingency plans;
(b)acompendium oftheproperties ofhydrocarbons andsimilar
products liabletopollutethewatersoftheMemberStatesof
theEuropean Economic Community ;Aproposal foraDecision
SystemforthePrevention
isattached .

(c)atankerfile(containing theircharacteristics andindicating
anyinfringements committed )withaviewtopreventing and
combating oilpollution ofthesea. .
TheCommission isto:
(a)beresponsible forprocessing thedatatobeputintotheSystem
.andforpreparing thesoftware whichwillmakeitpossible touse
thedataiftheyaretoberecorded onacomputer medium;
(b)notifytheMemberStatesoftheinputdataandinformthem6fthe
processing details;
(c)reporttotheCouncilandtheEuropean Parliament ontheopera­
tionoftheSystem.
TheMemberStates,whichwillbeusingtheinformation asawhole,will
forwardtotheCommission thedatawhichthey-havewhicharetobe
incorporated intotheSystem.
Equipment Spécifications
TheCommission iscompiling anInventory oftherequirements imposed
bytheMemberStatesonexisting procedures andthoseinpreparation
intheMemberStatesconcerning :
(a)thedefinition ofspecifications forproducts andequipment for
combating accidental oilpollution;.
<b)type-approval andstandardization ofproducts andequipment .
ThisInventory willbecompleted bytheendoftheyear,andthe-•.V
Commission willthenreferproposals totheCouncil onanyimprovements
whichshouldbemade-totheserequirements andprocedures inorderto-
makethemmoreeffective .Theseproposals willseekmainlytoensure
compatibility betweenthephysical andchemical meansusedtocombat
pollution andthepossibility ofusingthesemeansinallMember
States. '
Contingency Programmes
Inaccordance withpoint3oftheabovementioned ActionProgramme on
theControlandReduction ofPollution causedbyHydrocarbons dis­
chargedatSea,theCommission hashadastudycarriedoutconcerning
themethodsusedtocombatthistypeofpollution intheMemberStates
andinnineothercountries .Asaresult,ithasbeenpossibleto
workoutrecommendations astothemethodology tobefollowedin
drawingupContingency Plans.TheCommission departments concerned
andnationalexpertshavediscussed theserecommendations thoroughly .;
TheCommission intends toreferaproposalforadirective onthe
mattertotheCouncilbeforetheendoftheyear. .

Theintention willbetoprovideforthedrawmg-up bytheMember
StatesofContingency Planstocombataccidental oilspills.The
directive willprovidefortrialrunstobecarriedoutperiodically
andforanassessment tobemadeoftheireffectiveness intheevent
ofsamajoraccident .ItwillspecifythatJointContingency Plans
havetobedrawnupforareasinvolving severalStates.
Itwillprovidefortheexchange ofinformation betweentheMember
Statesontheabovementioned points.
i - ■ .-
)
Community SupportforPilotSchemes
f
Theeffectiveness ofactiontocombatlarge-scale oilpollution
dependsinparticular ontheleveloftraining ofthestaffwhomaybe
assigned todealwithoiIpollutionandprogress inovercoming technical
problems .Itwillbeworthwhile fortheCommunity tosupportoperations
designed toenableallthestaffconcerned tobroadentheirexperience .
Withthisaiminview,theCommission hasproposedthatthe1981Budget
shouldassignintervention appropriations tothefollowing activities :
(a)trainingstafftousethecomputer mediacomprising theSystem
mentioned inpoint3;
(b)organizing trialrunstotestthevalidity oftheContingency
Plansmentioned inpoint5andpreparing forthecarrying-out of
coastline clean-up operations whichareforeseen inthesePlans
butconcerning whichtherehasbeenlittletrainingactivity;
(d)schemesforthepoolingofexperience ofparticipants from
severalStatesandthedevelopment oftheskillsofmembersof
emergency teamswhoarenationals ofMemberStateswheretraining
possibilities arelimited;
1
«
(d)establishing testingcentresforpollution-control equipment so
thatonlyequipment inlinewithrequirements isplacedonthe
market; .
(e)overcoming theproblems whichariseinallMemberStatesinthe
eventoflargespills,e.gusingthewastecollected alongthe
coast. ,
Coordination ofNational andCommunity Policies :Setting upan
Advisory Committee
Themethodsqfcombating accidental oilpollution areconstantly
improving .Itistherefore essential toencourage exchanges ofviews
andthepooling ofexperience amongMemberStatesandbetweenthe
MemberStatesandtheCommission onthismatter.Itisalsonecessary
tocoordinate measures taken^or plannedatnational,international or
Community level.

Withthisaiminview,theCommission hassetupanAdvisory Committee
ofgovernment expertsandCommission representatives .Thetermsof
reference ofthisCommittee aretoadvisetheCommission ,eitheratthe
Commission 'srequestoronitsowninitiative ,onallproblems con­
cerningtheimplementation ofthemeasures referred tointhis
Communication .Moregenerally theCommission hopesthatthisCommittee
willbecomeaforumwhereexpertscanmeetforthepurposeofpooling
experience and,asaresult,facilitate thecoordination ofthe
measures withinthejurisdiction ofthevariousauthorities responsible
forcombating oilpollution ofthesea.
Inconclusion ,theCommission askstheCouncil:
(a)toapprovetheproposal foraDecisionattachedestablishing a
Community Information SystemforthePrevention andCombating
ofOilPollution oftheSea;
(b)totakenoteoftheinformation inthisCommunication .

SUMMARY
i
!
Thisproposal foraDecisionispresented undertheActionProgramme ofthe
European Communities ontheControlandReduction ofPollution causedby
1)Hydrocarbons discharged atSeaapproved bytheCouncil on26June1978
Forthemostpartitreflects thefindings ofstudiescarriedoutunderthe
firsttwopointsofthisProgramme .
TheaimoftheDecisionistoestablish anInformation Systemcomprising :
(a)aPermanent Inventory ofStaff,Equipment andProducts forcombating
OilPollution oftheSea,andaCompendium ofNational andRegional
Contingency Plans,
(b)aCompendium oftheProperties ofHydrocarbons liabLetopollutethe
WatersoftheMemberStatesoftheEuropean Economic Community,
(c)aCommunity Oil-Tanker file(characteristics andinfringements committed )
withaviewtotheprevention andcombating ofoilpollution ofthesea.
TheSystemwillbemanaged bytheCommission .(a)aPermanent Inventory ofStaff,
OilPollution oftheSea,anda
Contingency Plans,
(1)OJNoC162,8July1978,p.1.

COMMISSION
OFTHE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Proposal foraCouncilDecision
establishing aCommunity Information
SystemforPreventing andCombating
Hydrocarbon Pollution oftheSea

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.INTRODUCTION
InkeepingwiththeconcernoftheCommunity andtheMemberStatestohavemore
efficient methodsofcombating oilpollution ofthesea,theCounciladopted
aResolution on26June1978setting upanActionProgramme oftheEuropean
Communities ontheControlandReduction ofPollution causedbyHydrocarbons
discharged atSeawhichcallsupontheCommission tomakedetailed proposals .
Aspartofitstermsofreference theCommission setupaPanelofNational
Expertstodiscussthefindings ofstudies on:
Ca)Computerprocessing oftheexisting data,ordatastilltobecollected,
onwaysandmeansofdealingwithmarinepollution byhydrocarbons with
aviewtotheimmediate useofsuchdataintheeventofaccidental
pollution D;
(b)Theavailability fortheMemberStatesofrelevant dataontankersliable
topollutethewatersaroundtheCommunity andthecoastsoftheMember
Statesandonoff-shore structures underthejurisdiction oftheMember
States2);
(c)Theneedformeasures toenhancethecooperation andeffectiveness ofthe
emergency teamswhichhavebeenorwhicharetobesetupintheMemberStates3*
(d)Possible community contribution to'thedesignanddevelopment ofclean-up
vesselst^whichmaybefittedtheequipment neededfortheeffectivetreatment ofdischarged hydrocarbons ^.
During .thecourseofthese-meetihgs thenational expertsadvisedtheCommission on
thepreparation ofthisproposal .TheCommission hasalsotakenaccountofthe
councilDirective of21December 1978concerning minimumrequirements for
certaintankersentering orleaving Community portsandtheCouncil
Recommendation of26June1978concerning theratification ofConventions on.
safetyinshipping .
2.AIMSOFTHEPROPOSAL FORADECISION
ThepurposeoftheDecisionistosetupaCommunity Information System
providing theMemberStateswithreliable andup-to-datedataquicklyandat
theleastpossible costwhichwillenablethemtojoininthefightagainst
oilpollution oftheseaandtocombatoilpollution whenCommunity coasts
arethreatened .
1)Point 1oftheActionProgramme .
2)Point2oftheActionProgramme .
3)Point3oftheActionProgramme .
4)Point4oftheActionProgramme .

OUTLINE OFTHE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. Introduction
2. Aims ofthe Proposal for aDecision
3. Comments ontheProposal for aDecision
3.1. Scope oftheInformation System * -
3.2. Components ofthe System
3.2.1 . Permanent Inventory ofStaff ,Equipment andProducts for
combating OilPollution ofthe Sea,and Compendium ofNational
andRegional Contingency Plans
3.2.2 . Compendium ofHydrocarbon Properties
3.2.3 .' Oil-Tanker File
3.2.3.1 . Identity andStructural Features ofVessels
3.2.3.2 . Situation ofVessels with regard toInternational Conventions
3.2.3.3 . Accidents inwhich Vessels have been involved
3-3. Administration oftheSystem
3-4' DataAcquisition andProcessing
3«5. Cost oftheSystem
Implementation oftheDecision

TheDecisionliststhevariouscomponents oftheSystemanddefinestheroles
oftheCommunity andtheMemberStatesinthemanagement,implementation and'
operation oftheSystem.
3.COMMENTS ONTHEPROPOSAL FORADECISION .
3.1.ScopeoftheInformation System • \. -
TheInformation SystemsetupbytheDecisionisaCommunity Systemforthe
MemberStatesfortheprevention andcombating ofoilpollution ofthesea
alongCommunity coasts.Itisnot,however,"closed"System.
Itwillbemuchmoreeffective ifitcanbefedbythirdcountries with
information -whichmaybeusefully complement thatalreadycollected .
Itsvaluewillalsobeenhancediftheinformation itcontains can,if
necessary,bemadeavailable under,mutualcooperation arrangements tothird
countries whicharepartiestoConventions ,Protocols andAgreements towhich
theCommunity andMemberStatesarealsopartiesorwithwhichtheCommunity
andMemberStateshaveconcluded Cooperation Agreements •Underthe
Decision theCommission willsubmitproposals onthismattertotheCouncil.
3.2.Components oftheSystem
TheSystemcomprises anInventory,aCompendium andathree-part Filewhich
aredescribed below.
3.2,1.Permanent Inventory ofStaff,Equipment andProducts forcombating oil
Pollution oftheSea,andCompendium ofNational andRegional Contingency
Plans
ThestudiesconcludethataSystemcapableofproviding rapidaccessforusers
toanInventory ofavailablepollution-control resources andofthoseresponsible
anddetailsoftheequipment specifications isfeasible .
AninitialInventory ofequipment withdetailsofdescription ,typeandlocation
hasalsobeendrawnupinfthelightofthesestudies.
Detailsoftheequipment holderandspecifications ,suchasthestructure of
theequipment,itsoperational efficiency oruserconstraints areoftengiven.
Adocumentary databaseisbeingdrawnup.Itwillbepossible toputiton
computer . -
TheSystemcanbeusedtofindoutwherecertaintypesofequipment (e.g.
skimmers )canbefoundorwhattype,ofequipment islocatedinaparticular
place. ' ,
Theinventory willoperateinconversational modeonaswitched-message
,networkorviaEURONET.Thenationalpollution-control authority orauthorities
willbeabletointerrogate theInventory atanytimeandreceiveanimmediate
replyprovided theyhavesuitable terminals .
1)TheCommunity will,however,havetotakeappropriate actiontorestrict
accesstoconfidential information andtopreventunauthenticated information
frombeingfedintotheSystem.

TheSystemwillhavetobebackedupbydetailed information aboutnationalauthorities' contingency plans.Atpresentthisinformation isavailable in
theformofastudyreport.Itmay,however,beputoncomputerifthis
willfacilitate itsupdating oraccess.Dataonequipment specifications
willbefedintotheSystemastheCommission makesprogress withthestudy
anddefinition ofequipmentspecifications D.'
3.2.2.Compendium ofHydrocarbon Properties
»
Thestudiesundertaken haverevealed theneedfortheaboveInventory tobe
supplemented byinformation ontheproperties ofoilliabletobespiltin
Community waters.Thisinformation willconsistofdataonthephysico­
chemicalproperties ofhydrocarbons andexperience gainedfromaccidental
sp.ills,particularly asregardsthereactionofhydrocarbons todifferent
chemicals andwaysofcleaning upoilspillsusingmechanical equipment.
Sincethese'properties aregenerally constant incomparable conditions ,the
Commission considers itmoreeconomical andefficient toassemble therelevant
datainamanualCompendium ratherthaninacomputerized file.TheCompendium
willbewidelydistributed tothoseinchargeofpollution controlsothatthey
canconsultitatanytime.
: V · · ·3.2.3.Oil-Tanker File
ThisFileisintended forthecompilation ofinformation ontheidentify and
structural features ofoil-tankers ,theidentity oftheirownersand/or
operators,thesituation ofthevesselswithregardtotherelevant
International Conventions inforce(Conformity ,certificates ,infringements )
and,lastlyanyaccidents and/orincidents inwhichtheyhavebeeninvolved .
Fortechnical reasonsandforconvenience sake,itappeared appropriate to
subdivide thisFileintoSub-Files : .
(1)aSub-File ontheidentity andstructural features ofvesselsandthe
identity oftheirownersand/oroperators ;
(2)aSub-File concerning thesituation ofvesselswithregardtoInternational
Conventions (certificates ,conformity ofthevesselwiththeprovisions
requiredforobtaining andkeepingcertificates or,whereappropriate ,"^
infringements recorded); ^
(3)aSub-File recording anyaccidents and/orincidents inwhichthevessels
havebeeninvolved whichcausedoilspills. ,
* ..
Intheeventofanaccident,thoseresponsible forcombating pollution must
beabletoobtainimmediately theinformation contained inSub-File 1.
ThisSub-File contains alimited amountofinformation onthestructure of
thevesselswhichthoseresponsible forpollution controlmustknowin
preparation foractionandtheaddresses ofthosewithadditional information
(owners,operators,managers,Lloyd'sRegister). , •Sub-File 1is>thus
operates inconversational mode. -
(1)Seepoint5oftheCommission Communication totheCouncilconcerning a
PlantocombatOilPollution oftheSea.

TheothertwoSub-Files,ontheotherhand,operateindeferred mode(off-line )
asoil-tankers aresubjecttoreporting procedures involving time-lags which
allowthecompetent authorities attheportsofarrivaltoobtainthe
information contained inSub-Files 2and3beforethetankerarrivesinthe
port. j
TheaboveSub-Files willhavesoftware tailored toeachcaseandputon
computer,according totheCommission 'sdecisions .
Thestudiesconducted haveshownthatthereisnoparticular difficulty
involved inobtaining information onoff-shore structures underthejurisdiction
oftheMemberStates.
Privatecompanies havealreadyassembled theinformation whichcouldbeuseful
intheeventofaccidents .Thisinformation iseasilyaccessible .
TheMemberStatesunderthosejurisdiction thesestructures fallalsohave
thisinformation becauseofthehazardsinvolved inoperating thesestructures .
Accordingly ,andasthis'information isnotliableto'considerable orfrequent
changes,theCommission doesnotconsiderthatitneedatthisstageproposeto
theCouncilthataFilebecompiled foroff-shore structures .
However,itwi11'informtheMemberStatesofthecollections ofinformation
available .
3.3.Administration oftheSystem
Thedetailsforimplementing eachcomponent aregivenintherelevant Annexto
theDecision . '
3.4.DataAcquisition andProcessing ',.
Thestudiesconducted aspartoftheActionProgramme approved bytheCouncil
havemadeitpossible toidentify thefollowing :
(i)DataAcquisition .
Thesourcesofinformation whichcanbeusedtofeeddataintotheSystem.
SomesourcesbelongtotheGovernments oftheMemberStates,othersto
industry andotherstospecialist companies whicharealreadyoperating
computerized Systems.Thedatacangenerally beobtained fromprivate '
undertakings orcompanies attheratesestimated intheabovementioned
studies; -
(ii)DataProcessing
Thesoftwarerequiredforimplementing andutilizing eachofthe
components oftheSystem.
Thissoftware canbeputoncomputer.
TheDecision provides :
(a)thattheMemberStatesaretoensurethatthesedataareupdatedandthat
theseoperations arecoordinated bytheCommission ;
(b)thattheCommission istoplaceatthedisposal oftheMemberStatesa
copyofallthedatafedintotheSystem.

Thecentralcomputer ,andtheusersineachMemberStatecouldbelinkedvia
theEURONETnetwork.Userswillhavetoacquire aterminal andthecostof
thiswillnotbemetbytheBudgetoftheEuropean Communities .
3.5.Cost'oftheSystem
TheFinancial Recordattached indicates howmuchtheSystemwillcost.
4.IMPLEMENTATION OFTHEDECISION
EverytwoyearstheCommission willdrawupaReportontheoperation ofthe
Information SystemandtheusemadeofitbytheMemberStates.
ThisReportwillbesenttotheCouncil andtotheEuropean Parliament .
ThefirstReportwillbemadeoneyearafterpublication oftheDecision in
theOfficial JournaloftheEuropean Communities .
Although thelegalbasis(Article 213oftheTreaty)doesnotrequire
consultation oftheEuropean Parliament andtheEconomic andSocialCommittee /
theCommission considers consultation appropriate inviewofthepolitical
importance oftheproposal.

stv
PROPOSAL FORACOUNCIL DECISION
establishing aCommunity Information SystemforPreventing
andCombating Hydrocarbon Pollution ofthe.Sea
THECOUNCIL OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing .theEuropean Economic
Community,andinparticular Article 213thereof;
Havingregardtotheproposal fromtheCommission ;
J
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropean Parliament ;
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomic andSocialCommittee ;;
WhereasttfeCouncilResolution of26June1978setting upanAction
Programme oftheEuropean Communities ontheControlandReduction
(1)ofPollution causedbyHydrocarbons discharged atSeacalledonthe
Commission toundertake studiesbeforepresenting proposals to.
controlandreducethistypeofpollution ;
Whereasthesestudies havedemonstrated thevalueandfeasibility
ofsettingupanInformation systemforpreventing and
combating hydrocarbon pollution ofthe-Seacomprising apermanent
inventory ofpollution-control resources,acompendium of
hydrocarbon properties and-anoil-tanker file;
OJNoC162,8.7.1978,p.1. /

Whereastheestablishment ofthisinformation systemwillenable
theCommission toaccomplish anumberoftaskslaiddowninthe
CouncilResolution of26June1978andintheActionProgramme
annexedthereto;'' ,
Whereasthisinformation systemwillenabletheMemberStatesto
improvethecoordination andeffectiveness ofmeasures todealwith
oilspillsatsea;
Whereasthepermanent inventory ofpollution-control resources will
enabletheMemberStatesandtheCommission toidentify anygaps
andtakeappropriate action;
Whereasthecompendium ofhydrocarbon properties willenablethe
MemberStates,intheeventofaccident/toassessthenatyreof
thehazardandtodetermine themostappropriate meansofdealing
withthepollution ;
Whereastheoil-tanker filewillprovide areference systemgiving
thecompetent authorities rapidaccesstorelevant dataonthe
structural features ofsuchvessels;whereasitwillenableeach
MemberStatetotakepreventive "actionagainstvesselsthought
1
byanother MemberStatetobecommitting aninfringement and/
whereappropriate ,tocarryoutfurtherinvestigations atthe
requestofthelatter;whereasthisSystemwillcontribute tothe ;
t
cooperation calledforbytherelevant international conventions /
especially withregardtotheidentification ofinfringements
andtheenforcement oftheprovisions ofsuchconventions ;
Whereasifthissystemistobeeffective eachMemberStatemust
designate thecompetent authorities responsible forcollecting
thedatatobefedintothesystemandtoforwardsuch datato
. •V
theCommission ;' *

Whereasthevalueofsuchasystemwilldependonitsbeingkept
up-to-date,andwhereasappropriate provision shouldtherefore be•
madeinthisconnection ;
WhereasitsvaluewillbeenhancedifthedataintheSystemcanbe
madeavailable tonon-member countries undercooperation agreements ;
HASADOPTED THISDECISION :
Article 1
f
Aninformation systemisherebyestablished togivethecompetent
authorities intheMemberStatesaccesstodatarequired for
preventing andcombating hydrocarbon pollution ofthasea.
Thesystemshallinclude:
(a)aoermanent inventory ofstaff,equipment andproducts for
combating hydrocarbon pollution oftheseaandanup-to-datecompendium
ofnational andregional Contingency lans(AnnexI);
(b)acompendium ofhydrocarbon properties (AnnexII);
(c)anoil-tanker file(AnnexIII)containing information on
(i)theidentity oftankersandthatoftheirowner(s )and/or-
operator(s ),theirstructural features,andthemeans
ofacquiring additional information ofthiskind;
(ii)the/conformity ofthetankerswiththerelevant
international conventions andanyinfringements or
omissions underthesaidconventions .
Theinternational conventions referredtoinparagraph 2(c)(ii)
arethefollowing :

y\j
-4-
-The1974 International Convention fortheSafety ofLife atSea;
-The1966 International Convention onLoad Lines ;
-The1954International Convention forthePrevention of
Pollution ofthe SeabyOil,including theamendments adopted
in1962 and 1969 ;
-The 1972 International Convention onthe Prevention of
Collisions atSea; .
-The 1978 Protocol relating tothe 1974 International Convention :
forthe Safety ofLife atSea;
-The 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships ,asamended bythe1978 Protocol relating
tothat Convention ;
-The1978 International Convention onStandards ofTraining
Certification andWatchkeeping forSeafarers ;
-Convention No.147 .concerning Minimum Standards onMerchant
Ships ,adopted bytheInternational Labour Conference in1976 .
Artic le2
The Member States shall collect the information referred toin
Article 1and inAnnexes I,IIand III,inaccordance with
theprocedures described inthose Annexes .The Commission shall
coordinate such operations .
■••(mmm

Article 3
The Commission shall beresponsible foroperating thesystem in
accordance with the provisions ofAnnexes I,IIandIII. ,The
Commission shall place atthedisposal ofeach Member State acopy
ofall the information fedinto the system .-
Article 4
Within three months ofpublication ofthis Decision intheOfficial
Journal ofthe European Communities ,each Member State shall
designate the competent authority orauthorities responsible for '
collecting and forwarding tothe Commission theinformation referred
toinArticle 2,and shall inform the Commission thereof .
Article 5
The Member States shal Iforward the information referred toin
Article 2for thefirst time within six months ofpublication of
this Decision intheOfficial Journal ofthe European Communities .'
This information shall besent tothe Commission inaform and
according toaformat chosen bymutual agreement andshall beup­
\
dated inaccordance with the procedures described inAnnexes I,
IIandIII. L
Article 6
Every twoyears the Commission shall draw upand forward tothe
Council and the European Parliament areport ontheoperation of
the information system and the use made ofitbythe Member States .

fhefirstreportshallbesenttotheCouncil andtotheEuropean
Parliament oneyearafterpublication ofthisDecision inthe
Official JournaloftheEuropean Communities .
Article7
Onthebasisoftheexperience acquired theCommission shall/
/
whereappropriate ,refertotheCouncilappropriate proposals
withaviewto: , 1 '
«
(i)revising thelistofrelevant international conventions ,the
information referred toinArticle 2,andtheprocedures
fortherecording,processing andreporting thereofinthe
official languages oftheCommunity ;
(ii)concluding cooperation agreements relating tothesystem
withnon-member countries .
Article 8
This .Decision isaddressed totheMemberStates.
Doneat For
ThetheCouncil
Président

ANNEX I
Permanent Inventory ofStaff,Equipment andProducts forcombating
OilPollution oftheSea,andCompendium ofNational andRegional
Contingency Plans
CONTENT
TheInventory willcontaindataon:
(a)thenumberandqualifications ofthespecialist staff
available intheeventofanaccident;
(b)mechanical meansofrecovering oilspiltatseaandpreventing
orcombating coastalpollution ;
(c)chemical meansofcombating pollution atseaandcleaning
upcoasts.
TheInventory willcontaindataonthetypeofresources available
andwheretheyarelocated,andbebackedupbyaregularly updated
Compendium ofNational andRegional Contingecy Plansdrawnupby
thecompetent authorities intheMemberStates.
PROCEDURES
Commission
TheCommission willprepare apreliminary versionoftheInventory
andsendcopiestotheMemberStates.Itwillcheckthatthe
information ithasbeensentisinlinewiththepurposeandcon­
tentoftheInventory .Itwilltakeanyactionnecessary to
operatetheInventory,usingthe-dataprocessing facilities available

ANNEX II
Compendium ofHydrocarbon Properties
CONTENT
The Compendium will contain ,inparticular ,data on:
(a)thecharacteristics ofthe hydrocarbons carried :their
density ,liquefaction temperature ,wax content andrefining
characteristics ;
(b)their dispersion inthenatural environment :air,water ,
interface ,temperature ;
(c)their physico-chemical development inseawater :evaporation ,
emulsificatiori ,ageing ;
(d)their impadt onmarine flora andfauna,inparticular their
toxicity ;
(e)their characteristics which arelikely toaffect recovery and
pollution-control measures .
PROCEDURES
Commission
The Commission will coordinate data collection and beresponsible
for data presentation andavailability ofthe data tothe Member
States .

AnnexII
-2-
;/
MemberStates
TheMemberStateswill:
(a)assemble thedatareferredtoinparagraph 2abovewherethey
havesuchdataattheirdisposal,inparticular asaresultof
previousaccidents andsendthemtotheCommission ;
(b)informtheCommission ofanyotherknownsourcesofdata;
(c)supplytheCommission withanyinformation required "toup­
datetheCompendium .

ANNEX III
Oit-Tanker File
/
CONTENTS
The Community File will contain three types ofdata designed :
(a)toidentify tankers and those responsible for them;*
(b)toprovide information ontheinternational maritime
Conventions towhich atanker entering aCommunity port is
subject ,anyinfringements ofthese Conventions committed by
aparticular tanker ,whether such infringements have been
penalized orare being investigated ;
(c)toprovide information ontheresults ofany on-board
inspection ofoil-tankers ;
(d)toprovide information onany incidents ,accidents and/or
oilspills in*which vessels have been involved .
This information /wi11beassembled onthe following cards :
Identification cards foroil-tankers indicating the owner(s )and/or
operator(s ),information onstructural features and howfurther
information ofthis type can beobtained quickly .
Cards indicating thecertificates required bytheInternational
Conventions towhich vessels are subject and any infringements noted
during on-board inspections orobserved intheterritorial wateFS
ofaMember State . ,
Cards indicating any incidents ,occurrences atsea andoilspills
inwhich vessels have been involved ,

AnnexIII
-2-
PROCEDURES
Commission
TheCommission willprepare apreliminary versionoftheFile
andsendcopiestotheMemberStates.Itwillcheckthatthe
information ithasbeensentisinlinewiththepurposeandcon­
tentoftheFile.Itwilltakeanyactionnecessary tooperateth
File,usingthedataprocessing facilities available .
MemberStates
TheMemberStateswill:
(a)assemble theinformation ontheirownparticular resources,
sendittotheCommission inamutually agreedform,and
checkthatitisinlinewiththepurposeandcontentof
theFile;
«
(b)checkthatthecontentofthepreliminary versionoftheFile
agreeswithanyinformation theyhavealreadycentralized ;
(c)vsupplytheCommission withanyinformation requiredtoup­
*datetheFile.

FINANCIAL RECORD
Community Information SystemforthePrevention andCombating
ofOilPollution'oftheSea
BudgetHeadingConcerned
Item3545:Protection oftheMarineEnvironment .
LegalBasis
1 /
ActionundertheCouncilResolution of26June1978(OJC162)
setting upanActionProgramme oftheEuropean Communities onthe
Control andReduction ofPollution causedbyHydrocarbons dis­
chargedatSea.
Description
I ·
Objective
TosetupanInformation Systemrelatingtooil-tankers ,theoil
likelytobespiltandsuitable methodsofcombating pollution in
theeventofaspill.
TheSystemistobesetupbyaCouncilDecision andwillenablethe
competent authorities :
(i)totakepreventive actionagainstoil-tankers whichdonot
conformtoInternational Conventions whichhavecommitted
.infringements orwhichhavebeeninvolved inaccidents ;
(ii)toreactmorequicklyintheeventofoilspills,identify
themostsuitable pollution-control resources available in
theCommunity andmakethenecessary contacts withaview
toavailing themselves oftheseresources asquicklyas
possible . .

-2-
3.2. Persons Concerned (outside theInstitutions )
Seafarers
Inhabitants of EEC coastal areas
Tourists on EEC beaches
Maritime circles
Pollution-control equipment manufacturer
Those responsible for combating oilpollution .
4. Grounds
\
4.1. Nature ofOperation
This Counci I'Decision establishes aCommunity Information System
on:
/
(i)hydrocarbon properties
(ii)Contingency Plans and equipment available for combating
oilpollution "
I
(iii)structural specifications ofoil-tankers and anyinfringe -'
ments ofInternational Conventions onthe prevention of
oiIpollution .
Member States are tocollect information and send ittothe
Commission .
The Commission istooperate the System .
4.2. Benefits ofCommunity Action
The proposed Information System should make itpossible toimprove
cooperation between Member States and enable them toreact more
quickly inthe event ofoilspills . .

ItwouldalsoenableMemberStatestokeepaclosercheckoncom­
pliancewithInternational Conventions ontheprevention of
pollution .
Lastly,itwouldenabletheCommunity tohonour ,itsobligations
asaContracting PartytotheBonnAgreement onPollution ofthe
NorthSeabyOilandtheCooperation Protocol totheBarcelona
Convention fortheProtection oftheMediterranean Seaagainst
Pollution .
Financial ImpactonIntervention Appropriations
For1981:
Permanent Inventory ofPollution-control
Resources 280000EUA
Compendium ofHydrocarbon Properties 40000EUA
Oil-tanker File 280000EUA
Total 600000EUA
Financial ImpactonStaffandRecurring Administrative Expenditure
Staffrequired solelytocarryoutthisworkandtheappropriations
required forthisstaff
1A7/A6officiai : -20162EUA
1C5/C4officiai : 11958EUA
Total 32120EUA

The implementation ofthis Information System will require the
following operations : ^
Ci)regular contacts with thenational authorities responsible
forcentralizing information (Article 4);organization of
aWorking Party tohelp the Commission manage the System ;
(ii)regular meetings with System users (local pollution-control
officials ,port authorities );
(iii)management ofstudy contracts relating tothe System
(acquisition ofnew information ,harmonization of
information ,data processing back-up services ,training
 
ofusers );
-(iv)drafting ofatwo-yearly Report tobesent totheCouncil
andthe European Parliament (Article 6);preparing of
additional proposals toputtothe Council (Article 7).
Administrative Appropriations Required
These appropriations aretobeincluded inthe Commission 's
overall requests .
Financing Intervention Expenditure
These appropriations aretobeentered infuture Budgets .
Impact onResources
This operation ;does not generate financial resources buthelps to
conserve natural resources .

Proposed Inspection Arrangements
TheCommission willreporttotheCouncilandtheEuropean
Parliament ontheOperation oftheSystemeverytwoyears;

Commission Decision setting upan
Advisory Committee ontheControl andReduction
ofPollution caused byhydrocarbons discharged
atsea

33
Summary
InthecontextofCommunity actiontocombatpollution causedby
hydrocarbons discharged atsea,theneedhas,arisentosetupa
committee toobtainopinions fromtheMemberStatesonall
problems concerning theimplementation ofCommunity measures for
thecontrolandreduction ofpollution .causedbyhydrocarbons
discharged atsea.
Anotherreasonforsetting upsuchacommittee istocollect
existing information andexperience gainedinMemberStateson
themeasures forcombating pollution byhydrocarbons atsea,thus
facilitating the'coordination ofmeasures takenorplannedat
national,international orCommunity level.
*

Commission Decisionsetting upan
Advisor/Committee ontheControlandReduction
ofPollution causedbyhydrocarbons discharged
atsea
THECOMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropean Economic
Community,
Whereas,atitsmeetings inCopenhagen on7and8April1978,
inBremenon6and7July1978andinLuxembourg on27and28
April1980,theEuropean Counciltooktheviewthatpreventing
andcombating marinepollution,inparticular byhydrocarbons ,
shouldbeoneofthemajorobjectives ofactionbytheCommunity
WhereastheEuropean Communities 1973Environment Action
Programme (1),supplemented bythatof1977(2),stressedthati
wasofparamount importance toWestern Europethateffective
actionbetakenagainstthedangersinherent inthecarriage of
hydrocarbons ,including thethreatofseriouscoastalpollution
asaresultofaccidents onthehighseas,andspecified thatth
protection ofseawaterinordertoensurethemaintenance of
ecological balances wasapriority task;
Whereas on26June1978theCounciladopted aResolution setting
upanactionprogramme oftheEuropean Communities onthecontro
andreduction ofpollution causedbyhydrocarbons discharged at
sea(3);
(1)0JNoC112,20.12.1973 ,p.1
(2)0JNoC139,13.6.1977,p.1
(3)OJNoC162,8.7.1978,p.T

-• '-^
-2-
WhereastheCommission needstoseekadvicefromhighlyqualified
expertsintheMemberStatesconcerning pollution causedbyhydro­
carbonsdischarged atsea;
WhereastheCommunity alsoneedstoliaveaforumwhereexperts can
meetforthepurposeofcollecting existing .information and
experience gainedinMemberStates,thusfacilitating the
coordination ofmeasures takenorplannedatnational,inter­
national orCommunity level/
r
HASDECIDED ASFOLLOWS :
Article 1
TheCommission herebysetsupanAdvisory Committee ontheControl
andReduction ofPollution causedbyhydrocarbons discherged at
Sea,hereinafter referredtoastheCommittee .
Artide 2
Thetermsofreference oftheCommittee shallbeasfollows :
1.toadvisetheCommission ,attherequestofthelatteroron
itsowninitiative onallproblems concerning theimplementa­
tionofCommunity measures forthecontrol andreduction of
pollution causedbyhydrocarbons discharged atsea;
2.toallowthecollection ofexisting information andexperience
gainedintheMemberStates,onwaysofcontrolling and
reducing pol/lutioncausedbyhydrocarbons discharged atsea,
thusfacilitating thecoordination ofmeasures takenor 1
plannedatnational,international orCommunity level.
•«•/••■

Article 3
1. The Committee shall consist ofgovernment experts with
■specialist knowledge ofthe areas referred toinArticle 2
(three representatives per Member State );
2. Committee members shall bechosen bythe Commission onthe
basis ofnominations bythe Member States ; .
3.Representatives ofthe departments ofthe Commission
concerned will take part inthe meetings ofthe Committee .
Article 4
Analternate shall beappointed byeach Committee member .Without
prejudice toArticle 8,analternate shall attend Committee
meetings and take part inthe work ofthe Committee onlyifthe
full member inquestion isprevented from attending .
Article 5
The Commission shall publish the membership list intheOfficial
Journal ofthe European Communities for information .
-Article 6
The Committee shall bechared byaCommission representative .
Article 7
The Committee shall elect six Vice-chairmen from among its
members .
Itshall set upabureau consisting ofthe Chairman and th
Chairmen . ■upabureau consisting ofthe Chairman and the Vice­
•••/ê•m

-4-
ArticLe8
Thedepartments oftheCommission willprovidethesecretariat
oftheCommittee andofthebureau.
Article9
TheChairman mayinvitoanypersonwithexpertknowledge ofa
subject ontheagendatotakepartintheworkoftheCommittee -
i
1referred toinArticle 3.
Expertsshallonlytakepartinthediscussions onthematter
concerning whichtheyhavebeeninvitedtoattend.
Article 10
TheCommittee shalldrawupitsRulesofProcedure .
Article 11 ,
Withoutprejudice toArticle 214oftheTreaty,Committee members
-shallberequired nottodisclose anyinformation' which,hasbeen
acquired bytheminthecourseoftheworkoftheCommittee orof
thebureauwheretheCommission informs themthattheopinion
ι -requested orthequestion raisedconcerns aconfidential matter.
Insuchcases,onlyCommittee members andCommission representatives
shallbepresentatthemeetings inQuestion .
Article 12
#
ThisDecision shallenterintoforceon
DoneatBrussels 'FortheCommission
L.Natali
t

FINANCIAL RECORD
for theproject for aCommission Decision setting up
aCommittee onthe Control and Reduction ofPollution
caused byHydrocarbons discharged atSea
Budget heading concerned :Article 251 .
Title ofthe heading ; Committees (4th Group )
Legal basis :Treaty ofRome,European Communities Environment
Action Programme ,Europeans-Communities Action Programme onthe
Control and Reduction ofPollution caused byHydrocarbons dis­
charged ^atSea.
Description ,objectives and reasons for theproject :
Theproject for aDecision concerns thesetting up,inthe context
ofaCommunity policy relating tothe combating ofpollution
caused byhydrocarbons discharged atsea,ofaCommittee ofhighly
qualified experts .The intention isthat such aCommittee would
advise the Commission onall problems concerning the implementa­
tion ofCommunity measures for thecontrol and reduction of
pollution caused byhydrocarbons discharged atsea.Itwould also
provide aforum forcollecting existing information and experience
gained inMember States onways ofcontrolling and reducing pollu­
tion caused byhydrocarbons discharged atsea,andforthe
coordination ofmeasures taken and planned atnational ,inter­
national orCommunity level .
1980 appropriations
Committee meeting : One plenary meeting
Duration : Two days
Participants : *
-Committee members : Thirty *(three government experts
per Member State )
I
Independent experts : Three
Commission representatives :Six (theChairman ,theSecretary
and four representatives ofthe
* departments concerned )
AsGreece will shortly bejoining the European Communities it
would bereasonable andjustifiable toinvite Greek experts .

Expenses :
>
Committee members : '7.100 EUA
Independent experts : 1.000EUA
Total 8.100 EUA
Appropriations inLaterbudgets
1981
Plenarymeeting ^ Three
Duration ofeachmeeting : Oneortwodays *
Participants ^
Plenarymeetings : Thirtymembers
+threeindependent experts
Expenses
Committee members:(7.100x3)+10%(inflation )=23^430 EUA
Independent experts :(1.000x3)+10%(inflation )=3.300EUA
Totalamountinthe1981Budget: =26.730 EUA
AsitwouldbeaStanding Committee,annualappropriations along
thelinesofthe1981estimates wouldhavetobeprovided forin
laterbudgets.