The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation , 1990 (OPRC Convention) defines the basic elements for cooperation between government and industry in marine pollution response. Emphasis is given in the Convention to developing contingency plans, equipment stocks, research and development initiatives, training and exercise programmes, and appropriate spill notification procedures for shipping. This paper reviews the current status of the partnership between government and industry for dealing with spills arising from the transportation of oil by sea. Three areas are explored: the risk of spills, environmental sensitivity issues, and the capabilities for dealing with oil spills in different regions of the world. The f ormat for the study is based on the Regional Seas and Partner Seas Programme initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). For each region, the main factors contributing to the risk of oil spills are identified, analysed and discussed in relation to the current pattern of oil transportation by sea. Comparisons are made with data on major oil pollution incidents drawn from ITOPF's oil spill database. Priorities and activities in the different regions are considered and the implications for oil spill response are discussed. Finally, the commitment and capabilities for mounting effective spill response measures in the different regions are gauged, with particular reference to the tenets of the OPRC Convention.

In addition to its other tasks, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been active, in the field of marine pollution preparedness and response since mid-2004. The role of EMSA as a European Agency is to provide added value support to EU Member States and the European Commission. This paper provides the context in which the Agency carries out its range of spill response activities with regard to information, co-operation and co-ordination as well as operational support. Within this last category of activities, the paper details the main considerations and challenges of setting-up and maintaining a stand-by oil recovery vessel service available at short notice to all EU coastal states.1 Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency2 EMSA Work Programme (updated annually) is available from www.emsa.europa.eu