Common standards and guidance
Contracting Parties further agreed to develop and adopt the regional offshore standards and guidelines identified in the Specific objectives 7 and 8 of the Mediterranean Offshore Action Plan, with the aim to harmonise regional practices. Contracting Parties agreed to consider relevant existing standards and guidelines in line with overarching ecological objectives, EcAp Roadmap (Decision IG. 21/3) and in particular with the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) (Decision IG.22/7) of the UNEP/MAP.
Table: Overview of regional offshore standards and guidelines as specified in the Mediterranean Offshore Plan
|
Specific objective |
Outputs |
Status |
|
7. To develop and adopt regional offshore standards |
a)Environmental impact assessment regional standards developed based on existing EIA regional standards taking into consideration requirements referred in Annex IV and other best practices |
Decision IG.25/15 adopted by COP 22 |
|
c) Identification of the required modifications of Annex I, II and III and definition of which chemicals should be covered and not covered by such standards and under which conditions |
Decision IG.25/07 adopted by COP 22 |
|
|
d) Common standards on the disposal of oil and oily mixtures and on the use and disposal of drilling fluids and cutting formulated and adopted, and revision of the limits set in Article 10 and the prescriptions referred in Annex V of the Protocol |
Decision IG.24/9 (Annex I) adopted by COP 21 |
|
|
f) Procedures for contingency planning, notification of accidental spills and transboundary pollution established in accordance with the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea |
Addressed through REMPEC work in the framework of the Prevention and Emergency Protocol |
|
|
g) Special restrictions or conditions for SPAs defined and adopted |
Decision IG.24/9 (Annex I) adopted by COP 21 |
|
|
h) Common criteria, rules and procedures for the removal of installations and the related financial aspects adopted |
Planned in 2022-2023 biennium. Subject to COP 22 |
|
|
8. To develop and adopt regional offshore guidelines |
a)Regional Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessment |
Decision IG.25/15 adopted by COP 22 |
|
c) Regional Guidelines on the disposal of oil and oily mixtures and the use and disposal drilling fluids and cutting and analytical measurement |
Decision IG.24/9 (Annex I) adopted by COP 21 |
|
|
d) Regional Guidelines on removal of installations and the related financial aspects |
Planned in 2022-2023 biennium. |
|
|
h) A report assessing national, regional and international, rules, procedures and practices regarding liability and compensation for loss and damage resulting from the activities dealt with in the Offshore Protocol |
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i) Contribution through their OPRC Focal Points to the revision of the Section II of the Manual on Oil Pollution – Contingency Planning by the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) which will include new information related to contingency planning for offshore units, seaports and oil handling facilities |
Publication of the Manual on Oil Pollution: Section II – Contingency Planning (2018 Edition) |