Marine Protection Rules Part 131

On this page:

What this rule applies to

Rule overview

Materials incorporated by reference

Rule history

What Part 131 applies to

This rule applies to:

• Subparts A, B and C, which apply to:
  • any offshore installation operating in the internal waters of New Zealand or New Zealand continental waters. These installations include all drilling platforms, drill ships, well head platforms, production platforms, floating production storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); and pipelines that are attached to any of these installations.
• Subpart D, which applies to:
  • every offshore installation within the territorial sea.

Overview of Part 131

The purpose of Part 131 is to ensure that offshore installations operating in New Zealand continental waters and in the internal waters of New Zealand have marine oil spill contingency plans (OSCP) that will support an efficient and effective response to an oil spill.

Part 131 also ensures that certain pollution prevention equipment and arrangements on board installations meet international performance standards and in-service maintenance requirements.

Part 131 in conjunction with the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects-Discharge and Dumping) Regulations 2015 gives effect to the provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/78 (MARPOL) and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990 (OPRC) in respect of offshore installations.

The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act (EEZ Act) and the Maritime Transport Act amendments passed in 2013 will transfer responsibility for regulating discharges from offshore installations in this area from Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on 31 October 2015.

On 31st October 2015, Part 200 was revoked and Part 131 entered into force.

Materials incorporated by reference in Part 131

This rule was signed by the Minister of Transport on 23 September 2015 and comes into force on 31 October 2015.

• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention)
• the International Maritime Organization Assembly Resolution A.739(18) and the Annexes thereto entitled Guidelines for the Authorization of Organizations Acting on Behalf of the Administration
• Resolution MEPC. 139(53) “Guidelines for application of the revised MARPOL Annex I requirements to FPSOs and FSUs”.

History of Part 131