Introduction
The new Regulations of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships promulgated by the PRC State Council on 9 September 2009 took effect on 1 March 2010. Article 33 of the regulation imposed a requirement that the owners/operators of (a) any ship carrying polluting and hazardous cargoes in bulk or (b) any other vessel above 10,000 gt enter into a pollution clean-up contract with a Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) approved Ship Pollution Response Organisation ("SPRO") before the vessel enters a PRC port This application of this requirement was postponed and came into force on 1 January 2012.
The Regulations initially required all SPROs to be approved by the MSA. A list of approved SPROs, including Consortia and Agents, was published by the MSA and regularly updated. Click on the link "Annex I" found on this page to find an English version of the latest list. The revised Regulations have removed the requirement on SPRO approval by the China MSA. Instead there is a new supervision and examination procedure by the local MSAs. SPROs are also required to publish their capabilities, resources and service area for access by the public. More information is available in the International Group Circular published on 1 June 2015.
International Group
FAQs
IG FAQs - Updated 8 January 2014
Circulars
International Group Circular issued on 25 February 2020
International Group Circular issued on 1 June 2015
International Group Circular issued on 9 December 2014
International Group Circular issued on 21 December 2012
International Group Circular issued on 22 November 2012
Members' alert issued on 23 December 2011
International Group Circular issued on 6 December 2011
International Group Circular issued on 11 November 2011
International Group Circular issued on 22 August 2011
International Group Circular issued on 26 May 2011
International Group Circular issued on 18 January 2011
International Group Circular issued on 2 September 2010
International Group Circular issued on 26 April 2010
International Group Circular issued on 22 February 2010
Skuld News Up-date 15 February 2010
International Group Circular issued on 25 January 2010
International Group Circular issued on 4 November 2009
Skuld Legal News 16 October 2009
Latest developments
In May 2015, P&I Clubs became aware of investigations by the Chinese customs authority into a consortium SPRO, the Qianhe Group. Members are advised not to enter into new contracts with Qianhe until the position is clarified. Members with existing contracts with Qianhe can find more information here.
An amended IG recommended spill response contract wording has been issued which can be identified by the following footer: "IG Sample Agreement dated 20 November 2014". See circular published on 9 December 2014 for details.
The Consolidated List of SPROs, Consortia and Agents is regularly updated. The latest version can be found in the section "Annex I - list of approved SPROs".
Latest FAQs issued by International Group on 8 January 2014, see section "International Group".
See also unofficial list of agents with contact details where known dated 20 March 2012.
Articles
Holman Fenwick Willan/Maritime Risk International
Ship Pollution Response Organisations - Understanding the new PRC regulations
February 2012
Materials and Links
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
- Maritime Safety Agency
http://www.msa.gov.cn
- OSP.CN - website listing approved SPROs
(currently Chinese language only)
http://www.osp.cn/new/Index_news_disp.asp?nid=1088&Title=国内动态
CONSULTANTS
- Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Services
http://www.huataimarine.com
- CMS - China Maritime Services
http://www.cmsonline.net
- MpTAS Asia Pacific
http://mptas.com
Annex I - List of approved SPROs
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 19 March 2015
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 1 December 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 14 August 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 30 June 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 13 March 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 25 February 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 9 January 2014
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 30 December 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 28 October 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 5 August 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 25 June 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 13 May 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 18 March 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 18 February 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 1 February 2013
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 17 December 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 27 November 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 19 November 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 12 October 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 19 September 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 28 April 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 20 March 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 9 March 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 28 February 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 17 February 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 7 February 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 2 February 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 31 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 19 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 16 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 10 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 6 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 4 January 2012
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 30 December 2011
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 26 December 2011
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 23 December 2011
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 20 December 2011
List of Approved SPROs - Updated 7 December 2011
List of Approved SPROs - 29 November 2011