Marine pollution regulations in PRC

Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships

China’s first comprehensive system of marine pollution regulations take effect from 1st March 2010. The Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) is the enforcing agency for the Regulations supervising and administering prevention and control of marine pollution by ship operations. Before entering Chinese ports, ships carrying polluting hazardous cargo and all other ships over 10,000 gross tons must pre-contract with approved pollution response companies. Compulsory insurance is required to meet Chinese Maritime Code or 1992 CLC and Bunkers Convention where applicable.

Click on the update item below for the latest news regarding China oil pollution regulations

Latest Information

24/12/2012 -
OUTLINE:  This circular refers to the earlier Circular 17/12 “Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships”; A revised set of FAQs is attached to this circular taking account of the revised Detailed Rules although the further MSA Notice anticipated in circular 17/12 has not yet been published;  If a new MSA Notice requires amendments of these attached FAQs a new set of FAQs will be issued in a future circular;  The IG spill response contract issued with circular 17/12 has been revised further and is also attached to his circular.

23/11/2012 -
OUTLINEThe China MSA has revised its Detailed Rules on ship pollution response with effect from 14thSeptember 2012The Group has issued a revised model contract for contracting spill response...

26/10/2012 -
On 14th September 2012, China MSA issued the "Notice on Circulating the Detailed Rules on the Implementation of the Regime of Agreement for Ship Pollution Response (revised)" with the new "Detailed...

21/03/2012 -
Attached are the latest lists of Agents, Consortia and SPROs as of 20th May 2013.  

02/01/2012 -
A number of local MSAs have now issued their local notices. Here is a brief summary with attachments for information.

UK Club resources

06/12/2011 -
The International Group understands that the 1 January 2012 deadline to contract with an approved spill response contractor will still  be enforcedA partial list of approved ‘ship pollution response organisations’ (SPROs) is available – see Annex I of this circularAn International Group recommended contract for SPROs including supplemental clauses is attached in Annex IIA recommended authorisation letter for appointing agents in China to sign the contract with SPROs on a Member’s behalf is also attached – see Annex IIIAn SPRO appropriate to ship type and size must be contracted. A guide to levels of SPRO is attached in Annex IVCharges proposed by SPROs vary widely and may be excessive compared to responders in other jurisdictions

10/11/2011 -
The issue of lists of all approved contractors by China's MSA is postponedThe requirement to contract with an approved clean up contractor will still be enforced in all Chinese ports from 1 January 2012The Club's Legal Briefing “Chinese marine pollution laws” of July 2010 provides an overview of this legislationThis circular refers to previous circulars 7/11, 26/10, 14/10, 15/09 & 12/09.

05/08/2011 -
The lists of all approved contractors will now be issued in October 2011.The International Group is considering the development of a standard form authorisation letter for overseas operatorsThe Club recommends Members do not enter into arrangements with a  clean-up contractor until the "approved" list is made availableThis circular refers to previous circulars 7/11, 26/10, 14/10, 15/09 & 12/09.  Legal briefing “Chinese marine pollution laws” of July 2010 provides an overview of this legislation

26/05/2011 -
The outstanding detailed rules relating to China’s recent marine pollution legislation have now been issued.   The Club recommends Members do not enter into arrangements with a clean-up contractor until the "approved" list is made available.    A model mandatory contract is attached to this circular by annex. This circular refers to previous circulars 26/10, 14/10, 15/09 & 12/09.   Legal briefing “Chinese marine pollution laws” of July 2010 provides an overview of this legislation

18/01/2011 -
TO THE MEMBERS Dear Sirs REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPS We refer Members to previous circulars on the new...

22/07/2010 -
This Legal Briefing reviews the Regulation’s key provisions of interest to Members and provides summary translations of its key articles.

03/09/2010 -
A further postponement of the requirement to contract with an MSA approved oil pollution response company is likely An update of the existing situation This circular refers to previous circulars 12/09, 15/09, 5/10 & 7/10

30/04/2010 -
REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPSA further postponement of the requirement to contract with an MSA approved oil pollution response company is likely. China’s MSA is expected to issue additional rules on spill response arrangements in the next two to three months. Members should not contract with response companies for regulatory purposes until after these rules are issued. This circular refers to previous circulars 12/09, 15/09 & 5/10

12/02/2010 -
Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from ShipsNo further guidance on new requirements for pre-contracting with spill responders has been received from the Chinese authorities since the Club's last circular. The implementation or enforcement of the pre-contracting requirements is expected to be postponed until details of approved contractors and response capabilities have been made public and an opportunity given to operators to comply. The Managers and CMS will continue to monitor the situation. Members will be kept advised of any material developments.

08/01/2010 -
No further guidance on requirements for pre-contracting with OSROs has been received from the MSA since the Club's previous circular 12/09 Further guidance will be issued as soon as more information is available China Marine Services, a Thomas Miller joint venture service company in China, may be able to assist Members with practical matters of immediate concern

CMS resources

17/02/2011 -
Developments of the Regulations  A sketch to illustrate the structure of the relevant regulations at different levels and their scope of applicationThe latest requirement of the new MOT Regulation...

18/03/2010 -
Latest information (posted 22nd March 2010) FAQ on Administration of Prevention and Control of Pollution to the Marine Environment by Vessels as published in the CMS newsletter 4/10 of 18th March 2010.

11/11/2010 -
Development of Pre-contracting Issue:There is no development of OSRO approval and the schedule of executing the pre-contracting requirement.CMS has established contact with OSROs in main ports for pre-contracting issue.CMS service contract on pre-contracting issue has been ready.

18/06/2010 -
Seminar on draft Regulation of the PRC on the Emergency Prevention and Handling Management of Marine Environmental Pollution from Ships

29/04/2010 -
Developments of the Regulations

18/03/2010 -
FAQ on Administration of Prevention and Control of Pollution to the Marine Environment by Vessels

27/07/2010 -
Updated Information before the Effective Date

03/02/2010 -
  Shanghai Seminar on the New Regulations on Administration of Prevention and Control of Pollution to the Marine Environment by Vessels

Useful Contacts

If you have any questions on Marine pollution regulations in PRC please contact one of the team below.

Chao Wu:  Tel: +44 20 7204 2157 Email: Chao.wu@thomasmiller.com

Helen Huang: Tel: +852 2832 4436 Email: helen.huang@thomasmiller.com

 

 

Europe

Paul Sessions: Tel +44 20 7204 2211 Email: paul.sessions@thomasmiller.com

Lance Hebert Tel +44 20 7204 2490 Email: lance.hebert@thomasmiller.com

Richard Offord Tel: +44 20 7204 2486 Email: richard.offord@thomasmiller.com

richard.offord@thomasmiller.comPeter Steele Tel: +44 20 7204 2357 Email: peter.steele@thomasmiller.com

 

Greece

Rod Lingard: Tel +30 210 45 85 211 Email: rod.lingard@thomasmiller.com

Tony Fielder: Tel +30 210 45 85 214 Email: Tony.fielde@thomasmiller.com

Nick Milner: Tel +30 210 45 85 219 Email: nick.milner@thomasmiller.com

 

Asia

Peter Lau: Tel + 852 2832 9301 Email: peter.lau@thomasmiller.com

Kelvin Lam: Tel + 852 2832 4418 Email: kelvin.lam@thomasmiller.com

Helen Huang: Tel +852 2832 4436 Email: helen.huang@thomasmiller.com

Americas

Kevin King: Tel +1 201 557 7407 Email: kevin.king@thomasmiller.com

Debbie Bronis: Tel +1 415 343 0105 Email: debbie.bronis@thomasmiller.com

 

Emergency Contacts


If you need to call our offices out of hours and at weekends, click After Office hours for a up to date list of the names of the Duty Executives and their mobile phone numbers. 

Ship Finder


This Ship Finder is updated on a daily basis. Members who need to advise the Club of updates to their recorded ships' details should advise their usual underwriting contact.


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