Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

Environmental protection and management of clean-up operations within Ukrainian territorial waters is the responsibility of the State Inspectorate for Protection of the Black Sea (SIPBS). Each of the main ports of Ukraine, including five significant oil export terminals, operates an oil contingency plan and is required under Ukrainian law to undertake all measures in the event of an incident. In some cases clean-up operations may be conducted by private clean-up contractors which lease government-owned clean-up resources. 

Response Policy

Ukrainian response policy is not known but the predominance of mechanical clean-up equipment suggests this method as a primary response. When authorised by the SIPBS, a domestically-produced powder, “Ecodin”, is sometimes used to bind, sink, and bioremediate spilled oil. Information on the effectiveness of this product is not available.

Equipment

Government & Private

Each of the main ports and terminals of Ukraine has clean-up equipment including small multi-purpose recovery vessels, skimmers and boom. Much of the equipment is in everyday use (eg in preventive booming at loading terminals or rubbish collection by recovery vessels). Government and privately operated vessels are equipped for at sea clean-up operations. It should be noted that unlike in most other countries, it is common practice in the Ukraine to base clean-up charges on the quantity of pure oil collected, rather than the actual costs incurred.

Previous Spill Experience

Several minor spills have occurred along the Black Sea coast. Small operational spills at the busy oil export terminals are not uncommon.

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Bucharest Convention (with countries bordering the Black Sea).

Date of issue: December 2009