Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

The lead role for at-sea spill response operations is assumed by the Romanian Naval Authority (Constanta MRCC), which is part of the Ministry of Transports, Constructions &Tourism.  The Civil Protection Command (Civil Protection County Inspectorate) coordinates shoreline operations, with technical assistance from Dobrogea Litoral Water Directorate, Constanta.

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD), formerly the Ministry of Environment and Water Management, has prepared a National Contingency Plan for both oil and HNS which has been approved by government. MESD has responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of all laws related to the protection of the marine environment through:

  - the Environmental Protection Agency, which, in cooperation with the Romanian Naval Authority,  “Romanian Waters" National Company - Dobrogea Litoral Water Directorate and the Civil Protection County Inspectorate,  assesses, investigates, and proposes sanctions in cases of accidental marine pollution; 

  -  “Romanian Waters" National Company -  Dobrogea Litoral Water Directorate (Constanta) manages the marine waters and coastal zone, and participates in organising exercises with the Civil Protection County Inspectorate on oil spill response on shore.

The Ministry of Transport, Construction & Tourism is the national authority responsible for the safety of navigation and vessels, and is in charge of ensuring compliance with the rules for preventing and combating pollution from ships through the Romanian Naval Authority.

The Ministry of Administration & Interior, through the Civil Protection Command, is the authority in charge of disasters and would coordinate all operations in the case of a major oil spill.  In such an event the Civil Protection County Inspectorate, the border police, Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration, the National Maritime Ports Administration in Constanta (which owns clean-up resources for harbour operations), the Romanian Navy, Romanian Rescue Agency Constanta (which owns clean-up resources for open sea operations), the local oil industry (SN Petrom-Petromar Offshore Oil Company Branch SA, Rompetrol Refinery Midia SA), local municipalities and private contractors would also be notified.  The shipowners may be required to assist with organisation and funding of the response.

A National Oil Spill Response Centre (Operative Commandment for Marine Depollution) with a Permanent Secretariat for major oil spills has been established by law under the responsibility of the Civil Protection Constanta County Inspectorate, with the Prefect acting as the General Head.

A Marine Pollution Advisory Committee has also been legally established comprising representatives from all the organisations of the National Contingency Plan and any others considered appropriate.

Response Policy

The preferred response option is containment/recovery and manual/mechanical techniques for shorelines. Permission for the use of chemicals (eg dispersants) would need to be obtained from the MESD, though there is little available locally by way of resources and in any case it is not recommended for the Black Sea.

As yet, there are no arrangements in place for the disposal of oily wastes along the coast in the event of a spill. Incineration facilities for the disposal of domestic and industrial wastes are available in Constanta under the control of the municipality, and could deal with small volumes of oil or oily sand. Disposal of large volumes of oil, or oily beach material could be problematic, and assistance would be needed from the Constanta County Council.

Equipment

Limited stockpiles of equipment for at-sea response are held by the Romanian Salvage Agency Constanta, the National Maritime Port Administration in Constanta, and the local oil industry (Oil Terminal Constanta SN Petrom-Petromar Offshore Oil Company Branch, Constanta). Equipment held includes booms, skimmers, oil storage facilities, pumps and auxiliary vessels. The border police and Romanian Navy can also provide a range of vessels and personnel to support the response if needed. There are some private oil spill contractors, but they do not have specialised response equipment for open sea.

Labour is available from the municipalities, Romanian Navy, Constanta Civil Protection Inspectorate and commercial contractors by prior agreement.

Mechanical equipment for managing beaches and waste handling and transport is available from local municipalities, "Romanian Waters" National Company - Dobrogea Litoral Waters Directorate-Constanta and private contractors by former agreement.

Agreements are underway with various civil and military sources for the provision of aircraft for air surveillance.  In a major spill this would be coordinated by the Civil Protection County Inspectorates and headed by the Prefect.

Equipped laboratories are available at the National Institute for Marine Research and Development ”Gr. Antipa”  in Constanta, Romanian Waters National Administration-Dobrogea Litoral Waters Direction Constanta and Rompetrol Refinery- Midia S.A.

Previous Spill Experience

There have been no major spills in Romanian waters

Hazardous & Noxious Substances

MESD is the competent authority responsible for dealing with marine pollution involving HNS.  The Constanta County Prefect, or legal substitute, would coordinate the response.  Romania’s capability for responding to HNS spills is very limited and relies on the same resources as for oil pollution response.  According to the NCP, HNS cargo operators must have their own contingency plans.  As per national legislation, all masters of vessels arriving at Romanian ports must notify the vessel traffic service and include details about dangerous or polluting goods they are carrying.  Romania has some specialised teams and equipment for monitoring HNS spills and has companies (state and private) that can provide scientific support.  A risk assessment for HNS transport has been carried out.  Romania has had no previous experience of HNS spills at sea but in 2004 conducted an exercise to test the structure of the Oil and HNS Spill Emergency Response Plan; a further exercise was carried out in 2007.  (Information from EMSA, 2008)

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• 92’ Bucharest Convention (with countries bordering the Black Sea);
• The Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (with countries bordering the Black Sea).
• Black Sea Regional Contingency Plan ( as an annex to the  Bucharest Convention protocol agreed and signed by the Black Sea riparian countries ministries in Nov 2003)

For further information see also REMPEC (Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea) Country Profile (http://www.rempec.org/country.asp?cid=7&IDS=2_1&daNme=General%20Information&openNum=1)

Date of issue: July 2009