Bonn Agreement - Accord de Bonn
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Aerial Surveillance

Co-operation on Aerial Surveillance over the North Sea Area[1]

 

4.1     Introduction

4.1.1  The purpose of airborne surveillance is to detect spillages of oil and other harmful substances that can threaten the marine environment of the North Sea Area. The spillages caused by accident, or made in contravention of international conventions will be recorded, taking due account of visual observation, aerial photographs and remote sensing data. Where possible, samples will be taken both from the sea surface and on board the suspected offender.

4.1.2  Within the framework of the Bonn Agreement it has been decided to establish close co-operation on airborne surveillance. This will be achieved by:

a.       co-ordination of the national flight plans carried out by the Contracting Parties themselves;

b.       co-operation in areas of mutual interest, e.g. by means of Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operations (CEPCO);

c.       setting up special flights, such as Tour d'Horizon, Joint Flights and Aerial Surveillance Exercises;

d.       standardisation of reporting formats and exchange of information to Contracting Parties;

e.              working together in improving existing systems and develop new techniques to enhance the information obtained;

f.               the provisions of the Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code (BAOAC) and connected guidelines for its use.

4.1.3  The Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement have agreed to participate in the collaboration to the best of their ability.

4.1.4  The surveillance is co-ordinated in accordance with the decisions of the North Sea Conferences and provisions of sub-regional plans in order to make it more efficient and to make better use of the resources.

4.1.5  It is agreed that this cooperation scheme applies only to the international waters of the North Sea .

4.2     Co-ordination

4.2.1  In their regular meetings the Contracting Parties appoint one Contracting Party to be lead country for an agreed period. The lead country prepares the annual programme and updates the Aerial Surveillance Handbook (ASH) accordingly. The ASH contains general information, national waypoints, Tour d'Horizon scheme, special flights, reporting formats and surveillance results assessment. It also contains, as Annexes, the maps showing navigation points and routings, both regional and international.

4.2.2  The ASH will be issued to Contracting Parties by the lead country. It should be read in conjunction with this chapter. The ASH is designed to be used for the day-to-day management of airborne surveillance and as a ready reference for air crew. A lead country collects the data of the various flights executed in a particular year and makes an annual report.

4.3     Operational Flights

4.3.1  National flights

National flights are carried out by Contracting Parties over their own territorial waters and over other waters under their jurisdiction.

4.3.2  Regional flights

Parties involved in a bi- or multilateral agreement (e.g. Memorandum of Understanding) carry out flights on a regular basis over an area of mutual interest.

4.3.3  Tour d'Horizon

All Contracting Parties agreed on performing a flight mainly along the offshore installations, of at least 600 nautical miles. The aircraft crew will concentrate on all detectable pollutions from various sources. Roughly the area between 52 north and 63 north is to be surveilled. These flights are carried out according to an agreed yearly scheme. The responsible party is entitled to inform the others on times and routing the day before departure and on changes in the prepared schedule.

A Tour d'Horizon flight will be performed under suitable weather conditions.

4.3.4  Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operations (CEPCOs)

A CEPCO operation can be defined as a continuous sequence of aerial surveillance flights supported by sea-borne assistance - and where possible also with data from satellite observations - to ensure a permanent presence (e.g. over a period of 24 hours) in a sea area with high shipping intensity. This high level of deployment of means is only possible when several (neighbouring) Contracting Parties cooperate intensively to ensure continuity and optimal coordination of the surveillance activities. The aims of the operation are, inter alia:

(i)      to enhance the enforcement of discharge provisions at sea;

(ii)      to increase the deterrent effect of aerial surveillance efforts;

(iii)     to improve the cooperation between the participating authorities.

4.4     Aerial Surveillance Exercises

4.4.1  Each year exercises are organised by authorities of several countries within the Bonn Agreement or the European Community (EC). Participation in these field trials has a bearing on the national and Bonn Agreement flight schedules. Contracting Parties agree to participate in an Aerial Surveillance Exercise organised by one of the countries (not necessarily the lead country) once a year. A participant in exercises will prepare a report to make information gathered available to the organising authority. The organising authority will report to the OTSOPA meeting.

4.4.2  The Aerial Surveillance Exercise normally consists of:

a.       field trials, using limited quantities of oil;

b.       special substances to study the detectability by means of remote sensing;

c.       evaluation of the data recorded during the exercise;

d.       a workshop for the exchange of information and discussions of new improvements or developments on remote sensing equipment;

e.       evaluation of the exercise by an Exercise Evaluation Team.

4.4.3  All participants forward conclusive reports with data analysis to the lead country.

 

4.5     Reporting and Reporting Formats

Detected/observed pollution which warrants combating action are to be reported immediately by radio to the appropriate focal point. These reports are to be followed up by documented reports using the recognised Bonn Agreement formats and any supporting documentation and data considered relevant. Such follow-up reports are to be made direct to the appropriate administrative authority and could include any of the following:

-        Standard Pollution Observation / Detection Log and Completion Guide (Annex 1)

-        Pollution Observation / Detection Report on Polluters and Combatable Spills (Annex 2)

-        Standard Algae Observation / Detection Log (Annex 3)

Data from all surveillance flights should be reported to the lead country in accordance with the agreed procedure.

4.6     Flight Operation

The flights will be carried out under normal civil aviation regulations of the State concerned. The territories of other countries will not be infringed, unless necessary permissions have been obtained. Special attention will be given to the restrictions on radio and high frequency transmissions in the vicinity of offshore activities.

4.7     Flight Planning

Flight planning will be drafted under the responsibility of administrative authorities in the respective countries, which are to be identified as follows:

Belgium                                              Management Unit of the North Sea (MUMM)

Denmark                                            Admiral Danish Fleet

Federal Republic of Germany             Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME)

France                                                French Customs

Ireland                                                Irish Coast Guard

Netherlands                                        Netherlands Coast Guard Centre (KUWA)

Norway                                              Norwegian Coastal Administration

Sweden                                              Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ)

United Kingdom                                  Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

4.8     Regional Plans

Plans for bi- or multilateral agreements for collaboration on aerial surveillance will be elaborated by the Contracting Parties. The agreement will cover areas where co-operation is practical and suitable and based on mutual interest.

4.9     Communication

Operational communications between aircraft, ships and centres will increase the mutual exchange of information on observed pollutions and identified suspected polluters. Aircraft and/or ships deployed by responsible authorities are expected to establish contact with a suspected offender and to forward the obtained information to the focal point of a country.


                                                                                                                                                                             Annex 1

HELCOM BONN AGREEMENT      STANDARD POLLUTION OBSERVATION / DETECTION LOG 
NO POLLUTION DETECTED

 

REPORTING AUTHORITY

AIRCRAFT REG

MISSION No

CAPTAIN

CO PILOT

OPERATOR

OBSERVER

DAY

DATE

MONTH

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLIGHT TYPE

ROUTE / AREA

 

 

 

TIME OVER THE SEA

TIME OVER THE SEA

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

DAY

NIGHT

TIME OVER THE SEA

 

 

 

 

 

hrs

mins

hrs

mins

hrs

mins

                     

 

 

No

AREACODE

TIME
UTC

POSITION

DIMENSIONS

AREA COVER

%

OILED AREA

Km2

OIL APPEARANCE COVERAGE
(PERCENTAGE - %)

MINIMUM VOLUME

MAXIMUM VOLUME

COMBAT

LATITUDE
‘NORTH’

LONGITUDE
‘EAST/WEST’

LENGTH  Km

WIDTH
Km

1

2

3

4

5

Oth

m3

m3

Y / N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

POLL

TYPE

DETECTION

PHOTO

VIDEO

FLIR

WEATHER

REMARKS

SLAR

IR

UV

VIS

MW

LF

Y / N

Y / N

Y / N

WIND

CLOUD

VIS

SEA

Wx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

 

 

FT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

 

 

FT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

 

 

FT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

 

 

FT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

 

 

FT

 

 

 

 

 

No

REMARKS

OIL APPEARANCE TABLE

 

 

No

OIL APPEARANCE DESCRIPTION

MINIMUM VOLUME m3 / km2

MAXIMUM VOLUME m3 / km2

 

 

 

 

1

SHEEN

0.04

0.30

 

 

2

RAINBOW

0.30

5.00

 

 

3

METALLIC

5.00

50.0

 

 

4

DISCONTINUOUS TRUE COLOUR

50.0

200

 

 

5

TRUE COLOUR

200

>200


STANDARD POLLUTION OBSERVATION LOG
COMPLETION GUIDE
 

HELCOM: Tick HELCOM Box if the flight is in HELCOM Area
BONN AGREEMENT: Tick BONN AGREEMENT Box if flight is in Bonn Agreement Area
NO POLLUTION DETECTED: Tick NO POLLUTION DETECTED if no pollution is detected
REPORTING AUTHORITY: National Authority Responsible for Pollution Control.
AIRCRAFT REG: Aircraft Registration Letters / Numbers.
MISSION No: Nationally Assigned Mission Number.
FLIGHT TYPE: National Designation for Flight Type as follows:
NAT       -    National
REG      -    Regional
EXER   -     Exercises
OPS      -    Operational Flight.
RIG        -    Oil Rig Patrol
SHIP      -    Shipping Patrol
TDH       -    Tour de Horizon Flight

CEPCO  -    Co-ordinated Extended Pollution Control Operation
CAPTAIN OF AIRCRAFT: Name of Captain
CO PILOT: Name of Co Pilot
OPERATOR: Name of Operator
OBSERVER: Name of Observer
DAY:

Number Assigned to the Day of the Week as follows:                                                            Monday          - 01
Tuesday         - 02
Wednesday   - 03
Thursday        - 04
Friday             - 05
Saturday        - 06
Sunday           - 07

DATE/MONTH/YEAR: Two number designation for each of date/month/year of Flight
ROUTE / AREA: Flight Route or Area
TIME OVER THE SEA – DAY: Time over the Sea during Daylight
TIME OVER THE SEA – NIGHT: Time over the Sea at Night
TOTAL TIME OVER SEA : Total time between Coasting Out and Coasting In.
No: Number allocated to pollution detection.
AREA CODE: The international telephone code for the country (Area) in which the pollution is located:
  Bonn Agreement
Belgium                32
Denmark              45 (+ Helcom)
France                  33
Germany              49 (+ Helcom)
Netherlands         31
Norway                 47
Sweden                46 (+ Helcom)
United Kingdom  44
Helcom
Estonia       372
Finland        358
Latvia          371
Lithuania     370
Poland         48
Russia         7

 

 TIME UTC: Time of pollution detection.
POSITION: Latitude and longitude of pollution (degrees, minutes and seconds // WGS / 84 Datum).
DIMENSIONS: Length and width of pollution in kilometres.
AREA COVER %: Observer's assessment of the percentage of the boxed dimensioned area (length x width), covered with pollution.
OILED AREA: Oiled Area covered with pollution; calculated by multiplying length, width and cover %
Example:
Length  x  Width  x  Cover %
2 Km x  1 Km   x  50%, gives
[2.0]  x  [1.0]   x  [0.5]
= Oiled Area = 1 Km2
OIL APPEARANCE COVERAGE %: Allocation of Percentage of the `Oiled Area' to the Appearance of the pollution.
Example:
1/2 cover – Rainbow - Column 2 = 50%
1/4 cover – Metallic - Column 3 = 25%
1/4 cover – True Colour - Column 5 = 25%
MINIMUM VOLUME: Minimum Quantity of Oil Pollution in cubic metres.
Calculated as follows:
[Oiled Area] x [Appearance Code Minimum Thickness Value] X [Decimal Percentage of Appearance].
[1 Km2] x [0.3 m3/km2] x [0.50] = 0.15 m3
[1 Km2] x [5.0 m3/km2] x [0.25] = 1.25 m3
[1 Km2] x [200 m3/km2] x [0.25] = 50 m3
Minimum Total Quantity = [0.15] + [1.25] + [50]  = 51.4 m3
MAXIMUM VOLUME: Maximum Quantity of Oil Pollution in cubic metres.
Calculated as follows:
[Oiled Area] x [Appearance Code Maximum Thickness Value]
X [Decimal Percentage of Appearance].
[1 Km2] x [5.0 m3/km2] x [0.50] = 2.5 m3
[1 Km2] x [50 m3/km2] x [0.25] = 12.5 m3
[1 Km2] x [>200 m3/km2] x [0.25] = > 50 m3
Maximum Total Quantity = [2.5] + [12.5] + [>50]  = > 65 m3
No: The same number as previously allocated to the pollution detection.
POLLUTION TYPE: Pollution Type as follows:
OIL          - Oil  
CHEM    - Chemical
FISH       - Fish Oil or Waste
VEG         - Vegetable Oil or Waste
OTH         - Other (Amplify in Remarks)
UNK         - Unknown
Note: For Algae Detection, use the Algae Observation Log.
DETECTION: Detection Sensor:
SLAR      - Radar
UV           - Ultra Violet
IR             - Infrared
VIS          - Visual
MW          - Microwave
LF            - Laser Fluorosensor
PHOTO: Photographs of pollution
VIDEO: Video of the pollution
FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared of the pollution
WEATHER: Weather at the time of pollution observation / detection

Surface Wind:  Direction and Speed (knots or beaufort  as required by national authorities)
Cloud: Coverage in Octas or aviation description (scattered / overcast)) and Base in feet
Visibility: Nautical Miles or Kilometres
Sea State: Using the description code given in the Abbreviations
Weather: Rain, Snow, Haze, Mist etc

REMARKS: Any Amplifying Remarks

                                                                       

 Note:          For all Detections / Observations Boxes write:

                    ‘Y’ Sensor used and pollution detected

                    ‘N’ Sensor used but pollution not detected

                    ‘-‘ Sensor was not used or not available

 

Annex 2

POLLUTION OBSERVATION / DETECTION REPORT ON POLLUTERS AND COMBATABLE SPILLS (IMO)

 

1.   REPORTER:

      a.   Reporting State:                      :                                    .............……………………..……..……………............................ 
     
b.   Observer (Organization/Aircraft/Platform)               :  .........…………………………Call Sign…….……..….…............. 
     
c.   Observer(s)(Family Name(s))                                  :  1........................... …..………........2………..….....…..……........

 

2.   DATE AND TIME:

      a.   Date (yymmdd)  b. Time of Observation (UTC)     :  Date...............................…   Time…………...…………….UTC

 

3.   LOCATION OF THE POLLUTION:

      a.   Position of the Pollution (Lat/Long)                         :  Begin…..………..…..……....N,   ………………..…..…..…..W/E  
                         
                                                                           :  End……………….………….N,   ………..…………....……W/E 
     
b.   Inside/Outside Territorial Waters                             : 
o   Inside                             o  Outside

 

4.   DESCRIPTION OF THE POLLUTION:

      a.   Type of Substance Discharged                                :  ...................................................………………..……………...... 
     
b.   Estimated Quantity                 :                                    ..............................m3 
     
c.   Length (km)   d. Width (km)    e. Coverage (%)     :  Length.......…...km   Width…............km         Coverage…..% 
     
f.    Oiled Area (km2)                                 :                                       Oiled Area……….….(km2) 
     
g.   Percentage of Oiled Area by Appearance (%)           1:…………….%                            4:……………..….%

             1=Sheen        2=Rainbow     3=Metallic                      2:…………….%                            5:………………...%

             4=Discontinuous True Colour   5=True Colour        3:…………….%                            Other:…..……….%

 

5.   METHOD OF DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION:

      a.   Detection (Visual, SLAR, IR, UV, Video, MW          :  o   Visual   o   SLAR   o   IR   o   UV   o   Video   o   MW,
            LFS, Identification Camera, Other)            :                
o   LFS        o   Video    o.  Ident.Cam      o  Other

      b.   Discharge Observed       c. Photographs Taken   :  Observed:            Yes / No          Photos             Yes / No
     
d.   Samples Taken               e. Need of Combating    :  Samples:              Yes / No     Combat:           Yes / No 
     
f.    Other Ships/Platforms in Vicinity (Names)             :  .......................................................………………………………

 

6.   WEATHER AND SEA CONDITIONS:                             

      a.   Wind Direction     b. Wind Force       c. Visibility      :  Direction…….Degrees      Force……...Bft/Kts      Vis. ..…...kms 
     
d.   Cloud Coverage        e. Wave Height                       : Cloud………..Octa              Wave Ht……..….m  
     
f.    Current Direction                                                         :  Current Direction………….Degrees

 

OBSERVATION OF A DISCHARGE OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES BY A SHIP UNDER ARTICLE 6(3) OF MARPOL 73/78

7.   SHIP INVOLVED:

      a.   Name                          :             .................…………………………………………………............. 
     
b.   Callsign    c. Flag State                                               :  Callsign:.............................   Flag State :………………….......... 
     
d.   Home Port                                 :                                    ………………………………………............................................. 
     
e.   Type of Ship                :            ……………………………………................................................ 
     
f.    Position (Lat/Long)                 :                                    …………….....N,              ………………...W/E …….…..……..UTC                                                                             :                                                                             ……………….N,        ………………...W/E  …….…...…...UTC 
     
g.   Heading    h. Speed                :                                       Heading.............Degrees                  Speed........................kts 
     
i.    Colour of the Hull                     :                                    ..................…………………………………………….................... 
     
j.    Colour of the Funnel and Funnel Mark                    :  ...................……………………………………………................... 
     
k.   Colour / Description of Superstructure                   :  ……………………………………………………………………… 
     
l.    Vessels IMO Number                                                    :       ………………………………………………………………………  

8.   INFORMATION BY RADIO CONTACT:                          

      a.   Radio Contact  b. Means of Communication        :  Contact:  Yes / No     Means VHF / Teleph, ...…….Ch / Freq 
     
c.   Last Port of Call                      :                                    ……………………………………………...................................... 
     
d.   Cargo                    e. Last Cargo                                :  ……………………………………………………………………… 
     
f.    Next Port of Call, ETA (yymmdd)                               :  ………………………………………..........ETA.......................... 
     
e.   Statements of Captain/Officer on Duty                    :  ………………………………………........................................... 
   
                                                                                                     ………………………………………............................................ 

   
                                                                                                     ………………………………………............................................

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OBSERVATION OF A DISCHARGE OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCS BY AN OFFSHORE INSTALLATION

9.   OFFSHORE INSTALLATION INVOLVED:

      a.   Platform Name                        :                                    ………………………………………….............................…......... 
     
b.   Position (lat/long)                   :                                    ………………………………..         N             …………………….W/E 
     
c.   Type of Platform (Production/Drilling etc)               :  .............................................……………………………………… 
     
d.   Company Name                     :                                    ………………………………………………………………………..

 

10. INFORMATION BY RADIO CONTACT:

      a.   Radio Contact                 b. Means                             :  Contact     Yes / No          Means VHF / Teleph, .……Ch / Freq 
c.   Contact with (position)                                               :  ............................................…………………………………….... 
d.   Statements                                                                   :  ………………………………………….........................................

                                                                                                     :  .………………………………………............................…............

                                                                                                     :  …………………………………………............................….........

11. REMARKS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

      ……………………………………………................................…................................................................................. 
     
……………………………………………..................................................................................................................... 

     
…………………………………………….....................................................................................................................  

Annex 3

HELCOM BONN AGREEMENT              STANDARD ALGAE OBSERVATION / DETECTION LOG

REPORTING AUTHORITY

AIRCRAFT REG

MISSION No

CAPTAIN

CO PILOT

OPERATOR

OBSERVER

DAY

DATE

MONTH

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLIGHT TYPE

ROUTE / AREA

 

 

 

TIME OVER THE SEA

TIME OVER THE SEA

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

DAY

NIGHT

TIME OVER THE SEA

 

 

 

 

 

hrs

mins

hrs

mins

hrs

mins

                     

 

No

AREA CODE

TIME UTC

POSITION

DIMENSIONS

AREA

COVER

 

%

AREA COVERED

 

Km2

ALGAE COLOUR COVERAGE %

DETECTION

LATITUDE

‘NORTH’

LONGITUDE

‘EAST/WEST’

LENGTH

Km

WIDTH

Km

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

SLAR

IR

UV

VIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

WEATHER

 

ALGAE COLOUR / APPEARANCE TABLE

WIND

WAVE HT

SEA TEMP

REMARKS

No

COLOUR / DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

O

 

 

 

 

1

COLOURLESS

 

O