Oil Spill Response Equipment Typing: An International Approach

Oil spill response equipment typing provides responders with necessary information to support selecting the best resource for the job. Simply stated, “kind and type” are the description and capability of an identified asset based on its capabilities, size, and use. “Kind and type” help guide Operations and Logistics personnel to a specific asset. Though the front-end argument for resource typing as an effective means of communicating capability for resource ordering has been a major focus, using “kind and type” also pays dividends on the back-end of the resource acquiring process when assets are summarized and tabulated to complete the Resource Summary or the ICS Form 209. Incident Commanders who do not insist on a strict “kind and type” routine may see misleading entries on their 209s. For example, mechanical recovery skimmers can be referred to as portable skimmers, OSRVs, skimming vessels, ocean skimmers and so on. Ultimately, on the ICS 209, the total number of all skimmers must be able to be categorized and counted so that the Effective Daily Recovery Capacity can be summarized. Correctly framing “kind and type” in the world of oil spill response equipment and personnel has been an elusive target. Several initiatives have paved the path to where we are today. Most recently, The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) release of Guidance for International Offers of Assistance in Response to Marine Oil Pollution Incidents, Appendix 12 Equipment Lexicon Glossary provides an internationally recognized equipment and personnel capability reference. Members of the response community in the Pacific Northwest have further refined the IMO Equipment Lexicon into regionally specific guidance, which is used to classify over 5,000 pieces of oil spill response equipment listed on the Western Response Resource List (WRRL). The WRRL is a web accessible response equipment database. The authors will describe the process of incorporating the IMO's Equipment Lexicon into the WRRL structure to create an enhanced list of “resources” and corresponding “kind and type” designations suitable for the equipment listed by resource owners. Additionally, the presenters will discuss how the enhanced WRRL can be used to; Locate and order response equipment during a drill or spill, Provide an overall picture of the region's response resources, Support the development and review of oil spill contingency plans, Assist in cost accounting, Track organization resources. For additional Information: www.wrrl.us/