Bonn Agreement Counter Pollution Manual

Chapter 19 – Zones of Joint Responsibility

Three areas in the North Sea Area have been made the joint responsibility of two or more Contracting Parties. This chapter (when available) will explain how these joint responsibilities will be handled.

The three joint plans are:

• MANCHEPLAN – Anglo-French Joint Maritime Contingency Plan. This plan is in place and a summary of the plan is below.
• DenGerNeth plan – A joint plan between Denmark , Germany and the Netherlands . The plan will not come into force until an exchange of notes verbales has been completed.
• Quadripartite Zone Plan – A joint plan between Belgium , France , Netherlands and the UK . Arrangements are in place for the preparation of this plan.

MANCHEPLAN – Anglo-French Joint Maritime Contingency Plan

1        Background

1.1     A large number of shipping accidents which might occur in the English Channel are liable to affect both British and French interests at the same time. In such circumstances, the authorities of these two States may be called upon to step in simultaneously to deal with these incidents. In order to avoid confusion, and to increase the effectiveness of the measures taken, the French and British authorities have agreed the way forward in such circumstances, in advance, by production of a joint agreement named the Anglo–French Joint Maritime Contingency Plan (MANCHEPLAN).

1.2     MANCHEPLAN determines in advance of any incident :

·         the authority and State which will be charged with coordinating the joint action; and

·         the principles and procedures of co-operation in maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations and action to deal with pollution and salvage of any kind.

1.3     In the event of joint operations, the participating forces will continue to act in accordance with their standing instructions and national procedures. The success of the joint action depends largely on:

·         a good knowledge and understanding by each State of the instructions and procedures of the other, and MANCHEPLAN sets out these procedures; and

·         the effective use made of international procedures applicable to the situation.

1.4     MANCHEPLAN only applies in peacetime. In times of tension or war, co-operation may be effected within the ambit of the Atlantic Alliance.

2        Purpose

2.1     The main purpose of the MANCHEPLAN document is to provide guidance on joint operations for major SAR and pollution control incidents. However MANCHEPLAN is not restricted to such operations and may be activated whenever the French or UK authorities consider co-ordination would benefit by using the Plan.

3        Contents

3.1     MANCHEPLAN details the procedures and principles of co-ordination. Initiating action in joint operations rests with the State in whose jurisdication the incident occurs.

3.2     MANCHEPLAN sets out the demarcation lines for each State including those for the Channel Islands as a sub region. The area covered is given in detail with the north eastern extremity between France and Belgium territorial waters and between the French and Belgian continental shelves. The western boundary coincides with the Bonn Agreement limits.

3.3     Outside the limits of the Bonn Agreement, UK and French SAR resources are available for use under MANCHEPLAN, and the provision of a joint plan may be applied whenever circumstances suggest that it is expedient to do so.

3.4     The MANCHEPLAN sets out the circumstances under which each nation can enter the others territorial waters for the purpose of SAR or pollution control operations.

3.5.    The MANCHEPLAN allows for exchange of information relating to national laws and regulations, national organisations, clearance resources and facilities, communications and the use of common formats for messages and command procedures.

3.6     Further details of SAR and pollution control assets available from each State are contained within the Plan.

3.7     The use of a MANCHEGRID can be provided at the discretion of the On Scene Commander to report the position and extent of oil slicks during large scale pollution clearance operations.

3.8     SAR operations required for MOD forces in distress are transferred to the Navy or Air Force. In these circumstances the MANCHEPLAN includes details of the co-ordination centres for each State.

3.9     Details of when, and how, high level or government intervention may be considered are provided in MANCHEPLAN for guidance purposes.

3.10   All major incidents attract media interest and a section of the Plan is devoted to guidance on relationships with the news media.

3.11   In addition, the MANCHEPLAN allows for one joint exercise per year to be undertaken.

4.       Amendments

4.1     All amendments to the Plan are agreed by both States before implementation.

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