Guidelines for the Development of Joint Spill Response Exercises within the Framework of the Sub-regional Contingency Plans – Sep 29, 2025
The Guidelines for the Development of Joint Spill Response Exercises within the Framework of the Sub-regional Contingency Plans (the Guidelines) is a document developed by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) to provide Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (CPs) with a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to optimize the planning, execution, and evaluation of joint exercises within the framework of the Subregional Contingency Plans (SCPs), developed in accordance with the Articles 4 and 17 of the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships, and in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol).
Within the SCPs, implementation activities are jointly planned and carried out by the members of the Agreement on the SCPs, based on a programme of activities providing short, medium and long-term capacity-building and trainings on various related themes. Despite the numerous activities achieved under the different SCPs, joint exercises involving two or more SCP members have been less frequent. This highlighted the need to provide support in facilitating the planning, design, preparation, and conduct of joint exercises.
What is the purpose of these Guidelines?
These guidelines are built on observations and lessons learned from past exercises within existing SCPs on role assignment, communication systems, and scenario design to better reflect real-world complexities. They provide a strong foundation for strengthening readiness and enhancing regional collaboration and mutual assistance to respond effectively to marine pollution incidents. They are tailored to meet the needs of all stakeholders, defined in the SCPs, from national governmental and operational authorities to regional organizations.
The Guidelines are composed of the following two Parts. Each part serves a different purpose, ensuring that users have the flexibility and guidance needed for successful joint exercises:
- Part I provides a comprehensive, generic framework intended to guide the organization of any type of joint exercise within SCPs.
- Part II outlines all the necessary steps, offering a detailed, adaptable process that can be customized to suit the specific type of exercise being planned.
The Guidelines are completed with by an Annex providing an Example of Exercise Scenario & Progress Checklist including a Step by Step Exercise Scenario Example (part 1) and an Exercise Progress Checklist for the Organising Stakeholder (part 2).
The Guidelines were endorsed by the 16th Meeting of REMPEC Focal Points held in Malta between 13 and 15 May 2025.
The Guidelines in both English and French are available to download below.
