HELCOM Recommendation 28/3

supersedes HELCOM Recommendation 24/6

Adopted 7 March 2007 having regard to Article 20, Paragraph 1 b) of the Helsinki Convention

Guidelines on bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfer of oils, subject to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, in the Baltic Sea Area

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING Article 8 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992 (the Helsinki Convention), in which the Contracting Parties undertake to take measures in order to protect the Baltic Sea Area from pollution from ships, 

RECALLING ALSO Article 14 of the Helsinki Convention, in which the Contracting Parties undertake individually and jointly to maintain adequate ability and to respond to pollution incidents, 

NOTING that bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfer of oils, subject to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, take place in the Baltic Sea Area, 

NOTING FURTHER the increase in the annual number of such bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfers in the Baltic Sea Area, 

NOTING ALSO that spills of oil have occurred during operations, 

DESIRING to prevent spills during these bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfers in the Baltic Sea Area, 

RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties apply the guidelines, as given in the annex to this Recommendation to bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfer of oils, subject to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, carried out in their territorial seas, and also take into account Resolution MEPC.96(47) “Guidelines for the Sampling of Fuel Oil for Determination of Compliance with Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78”, 

RECOMMENDS ALSO that the Governments of the Contracting Parties, in accordance with international law, apply the same guidelines to bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfer of oils, subject to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, conducted outside their territorial seas, 

RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the Contracting Parties report on the implementation of this Recommendation, in accordance with Article 16 (1) of the Helsinki Convention, one year after its adoption.