Reception Facilities

Reception Facility Problems – Feedback and Follow-up

Combined with the follow-up of the more extreme cases of inadequate facilities and repeated references to particular ports or terminals, we also receive more direct and detailed feedback on problem facilities. These are handled on a case-by-case basis. Where appropriate, approaches are made to the facility, terminal and/or port to clarify the matter. In addition, extended follow up will include a note to the flag administration and the regional and/or national administration, e.g. UK MCA, EMSA, USCG, etc.

Reception Facility Inadequacy Reporting in the United States

INTERTANKO, in coordination with the US Coast Guard, has developed a Format for Reporting Inadequate or Problems Encountered with Port Reception Facilities in the United States. During the October 2006 INTERTANKO North American Panel meeting, the US Coast Guard provided the Panel with developments they are taking to ensure that there are adequate reception facilities in the US.  This was initiated because the US Coast Guard had recently received information from INTERTANKO and others suggesting problems with the availability of reception facilities in US ports. The US Coast Guard STRONGLY recommends that any inadequate port reception facility in the US should be reported immediately to the local Captain of the Port as recommended in 33 CFR 158.167.  Click here for full details.

Following continual reporting on inadequate facilities and the case-by-case manner in which many of the reports are handled, INTERTANKO is implementing a “name and shame” database on the members’ section of our website. Following requests by our Council,  INTERTANKO now provides a summary table outlining current problem ports and/or terminals and the associated inadequacies together with a summary of INTERTANKO’s latest action on the matter.

INTERTANKO is responsible for the development and administration of the Industry Reception Facility Forum. Supported by fellow members of the Round Table, the Forum is also supported by the port authority associations and individual ports, as well as reception facility providers, the IMO and EMSA.

While only in its second year, the Forum has been successful in ensuring that the IMO continues its focus on the issue of inadequate reception facilities and has led to the development of the IMO’s Action Plan on reception facilities. This stemmed from the more practical approach which the Forum has developed and  which has meant more attention on practical and technical problems associated with inadequate reception facilities. 

INTERTANKO welcomed the implementation of the European Directive on Reception Facilities but has growing concerns over its implementation by member states, noting considerable shortcomings in the detail of the Directive and its interpretation by member states. INTERTANKO has worked closely with the European Commission, and more particularly with EMSA, on explaining these problems and contributing to a better understanding of the ship owners' problems in Europe.