UK Scheme

In 2018 the UK’s MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)introduced National Standards to be met by UK OSRO’s. Their intent is to provide for a quality control assurance protocol for those companies wishing to offer OSRO services in the UK.

The NI applied to be an accreditation body for this Standard and were successful. The UK Scheme started in October 2018. The full UK Scheme requirements can be viewed on the UK’s “gov.uk” website. Follow this link to view :- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-standard-for-marine-oil-spill-response-organisations

International Scheme

The NI can now  offer an accreditation service to those OSRO’s outside of the UK. The best practice requirements that will be applied in lieu of the UK Standard will be those published by IPIECA (The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association) in their document “ The global distribution and assessment of major oil spill response resources 2015 “ available from the link:- http://www.ipieca.org/resources/awareness-briefing/the-global-distribution-and-assessment-of-major-oil-spill-response-resources/

The NI recognise that many counties will have their own national internal system to licence OSRO’s but if these are not in place the OSRO can, by achieving the NI’s award, demonstrate to their regulators and clients that they have met the requirements of best international practice and have been assessed in meeting theses by the NI, a recognised independent accreditation body.

Both schemes will review and validate the OSRO’s stated capability. The OSRO will have to provide a capability statement stating their range of services.

To maintain the NI’s accreditation the OSRO will need to re-apply every three years.

Further information

Please select the link either for the UK Scheme or the International Scheme below for further information on the Scheme,  Technical Standards, Fees, and those currently accredited.