Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan

Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan — required by MARPOL Annex I Reg. 37 for all oil tankers ≥150 GT and other ships ≥400 GT. The SOPEP gives guidance to the master and officers on actions to be taken in the event of an oil pollution incident: damage assessment, communication with the Administration, port state, and operator, mitigation steps, and recordkeeping. The plan is approved by the flag state or its Recognised Organisation and tested in drills. PSC inspectors verify the plan's currency, the approval, and the crew's familiarity with it.