IMO Manual On Oil Pollution: Section III - Salvage 1997 EditionView all products in IMO Marine Environment Protection

Section III of the Manual on Oil Pollution is intended to be used in conjunction with the national contingency plan described in Section II - Contingency Planning. The guidance in Section III will help Administrations and officials involved with oil pollution casualties effectively mitigate the effects of accidents, whether there is a spillage from a tanker or the release of bunkers from dry cargo vessels or passenger vessels.

In most accidents, the Captain, as representative of the ship owner, and the cargo owner will make immediate action to ensure the safety of the crew, the preservation of the ship, and to stop, or limit cargo outflow. The Captain, or owners will also make arrangements, where necessary for the salvage of the vessel.

The salvor's primary aim will be the successful completion of his assignment, whereas the concern of the Administration may additionally involve, but not be limited to, protection of local industry, fisheries, and maintenance of the ecology of the area. It is important that that full cooperation between all parties involved, administrations, ship and cargo owners, salvor's, etc. is arranged quickly, and that as far as possible, a division of responsibility worked out and accepted prior to, or at the inception of any incidents.

The Powers of Intervention under the 1969 Intervention Convention, and the 1973 Intervention Protocal, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Convention on Salvage are also covered in Section III.

The Manual on Oil Pollution series consists of six sections:

• Section I - Prevention
• Section II - Contingency Planning
• Section III - Salvage (this publication)
• Section IV - Combating Oil Spills
• Section V - Administrative Aspects of Oil Pollution Response
• Section VI - IMO Guidelines for Sampling and Identification of Oil Spils