INTERNAL EMERGENCY PLAN

The internal emergency plan for the ports dependent upon Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority is a document that defines the organizational structure, human and material means available and action protocols planned for ports, for the purpose of preventing accidents of any kind, and, in the event of occurrence, of facing such incidents in an organized manner, thereby mitigating their effects inside facilities.
Protecting persons, containing and controlling incidents and minimizing damage to the environment are the main targets set down in this plan, operative in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port since 2003.
In 2008, eleven drills were carried out inside facilities at Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority regularly updates internal emergency plans for ports. Currently in use is the sixth review, dating from February 2008.

RELEVANT LEGISLATION

The following legislation is applicable to the internal emergency plan currently in force in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port:
Regulation 145/89, concerning the admission, handling and storage of dangerous goods in ports.
Law 27/92 of State Ports and the Merchant Navy, amended by Law 62/97.
Law 31/95 of Occupational Risk Prevention and additional legislation.
Law 2/85, of 21 January, concerning Civil Defence and additional rules and regulations.
Applicable environmental legislation.
Royal Decree 1254/99, which approves the control of major accidental hazards involving dangerous substances.
Regulation concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by road.
IMDGC Code.

CONTINGENCY PLAN TO FIGHT AGAINST MARINE POLLUTION

Contingency planning for accidental marine pollution encompasses any event, resulting from uncontrolled spillage, arising from operations involving loading, unloading and/or the handling of hydrocarbons, which may present a serious hazard, catastrophe, or immediate or subsequent public disaster for persons, property and the environment within the port service area, requiring priority attention and mobilization in that area of the port.
With a view to minimizing the consequences stemming from this kind of pollution, particularly to persons, the environment and facilities, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority has devised an internal contingency plan for accidental pollution (PICCMA), thereby ensuring compliance of the legal requirements in the fight against marine, land and atmospheric pollution in port service areas: Law 48/2003, of 26 November, concerning the economic situation and provision of services of general interest to port authorities, and Royal Decree 253/2004, of 13 February, which set down prevention measures to fight against pollution during operations of loading, unloading and handling hydrocarbons in the maritime and port area.
The objective of the PICCMA is to reflect the responsibilities of the port authority during situations of accidental marine pollution by hydrocarbons in port service areas, and to specify collaboration and coordination tasks between the different actors involved: port authority, harbour master’s offices, SASEMAR, concessions and facilities affected.
The PICCMA covers port service areas, particularly places where contingency situations may arise due to accidental pollution by hydrocarbons originating in the concessions or activities contemplated in Royal Decree 253/2004.
These internal plans also include an interface that enables a connection to other contingency plans—those concerning the facilities or activities affected, the national contingency plan and the territorial contingency plan—so that, through the appropriate collaboration and coordination of the actors involved in an accidental marine pollution incident, the following may be efficiently achieved:

Prevent emergency situations wherever.
Safely monitor consequences arising from an emergency.
Protect health, human lives and the environment.
Minimize damages to the facilities affected and to the surrounding area.
Notify the authorities and the general population of the relevant information.

The PICCMA of ports dependent upon Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority has also been drawn up in accordance with the requirements set down in the various international agreements ratified by the Spanish state in the fight against marine pollution by the accidental spillage of polluting substances, and particularly according to the provisions of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC ’90).
The PICCMA was therefore drawn up along the lines set by Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority to achieve quality in the organization of port activities, based, among other mainstays, on respect for the environment, security of facilities and operations carried out in the port service areas, risk prevention and the adaptation of legislation to the port.
Finally, it should be pointed out that the port authority has set a standard to ensure that surface waters remain free of hydrocarbons, which means that any alteration observed is considered a spill and a plan of action is immediately activated.
With this practice, the statistical data of this kind of incident work against the ports dependent upon Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority, since what we consider spillages are not regarded as incidents in other facilities throughout the European Community. By way of contrast, this behaviour enables the port authority to keep alert and raise awareness among the port community of the importance of good environmental practices.
With a view to responding swiftly and in the best coordinated manner in the event of possible disasters and risk situations, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority periodically carries out drills, efficiently coordinating all the parties concerned. Photo of two drills in San Sebastián de La Gomera and La Estaca.