Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 31 of 2012.

These Regulations, implementing sections 335 (1) and (3) of section 434 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007, provide for giving effect to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation and for: creating a framework for an effective response to marine pollution; setting out guidelines for reporting pollution incidents; empowering the Agency to coordinate the response efforts for marine pollution; ensuring collaboration with Convention countries in the response efforts; ensuring adherence with the Polluter Pays Principle. The Regulations apply to: oil terminals offering berths alongside on buoys or at anchor, to ships; shipyards, dockyards, cargo terminals and jetties offering berths alongside on buoys or at anchor, to ships and oil tankers of defined tonnage; ships and storage units for oil; port, harbour, terminal, jetty or oil handling facility located in an area of significant environmental sensitivity or in an area where a discharge of oil or other substances could cause significant economic damage. The Regulations concern: preparation of oil pollution emergency plans; reporting of incidents by ships and offshore installations and by oil handling facilities; action on receiving oil pollution report; maintenance of equipment; inspection of ships and installations; offences.