HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 4/3
adopted 1 February 1983, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL ABILITY TO DEAL WITH SPILLAGES OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES OTHER THAN OIL
THE COMMISSION,
RECALLING the provisions of Regulation 2 of Annex VI to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), concerning the ability of the Contracting Parties to the Convention to combat spillages of oil and other harmful substances at sea,
RECALLING FURTHER
- HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 1/1 concerning Measures to Ensure the Use of Reception Facilities for Wastes from Ships,
- HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 1/7 concerning the Development of National Ability to Combat Spillages of Oil,
- HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 2/1 concerning Amendment of Regulation 5 of Annex IV of the Helsinki Convention,
RECOGNIZING the urgent need for the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention to further develop their abilities to deal with spillages of harmful substances other than oil,
RECOGNIZING FURTHER the complexity of problems involved in combatting such harmful substances,
RECOGNIZING ALSO that the basic organization as used for oil combatting purposes could be used for the combatting of harmful substances other than oil, and that also the equipment used for oil combatting purposes could be utilized for the combatting of some of these substances,
NOTING that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing a manual on combatting spillages of harmful substances other than oil and that such a manual, when completed, would be a valuable contribution on the subject,
BEING AWARE of the great value of co-ordinated national efforts in the development of the ability to combat spillages of harmful substances other than oil,
RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention:
a) should, when developing their national ability to combat spillages of oil as appropriate, aim at the inclusion of the capability to combat spillages of harmful substances other than oil in the ability of their combatting services;
b) should, when developing this capability, take into consideration:
(i) the trade pattern for harmful substances other than oil within their response regions;
(ii) the kind and amount of substances transported;
(iii) the relevant IMO and Helsinki Commission guidelines on the combatting of such substances when finalized; and
(iv) that the provision of adequate reception facilities is essential for preventing operational discharges of these substances;
c) should see to it that ships used for transportation of harmful substances other than oil fulfil the requirements for design, construction and equipment contained in the relevant IMO instruments with respect to such ships; and
d) should keep each other informed of action taken in order to implement this Recommendation.