SECTION 5

Action on receiving an oil pollution report (1) Whenever a Party receives a report referred to in article 4 or pollution information provided by other sources, it shall: (a) assess the event to determine whether it is an oil pollution incident; (b) assess the nature, extent and possible consequences of the oil pollution incident; and (c) then, without delay, inform all States whose interests are affected or likely to be affected by such oil pollution incident, together with (i) details of its assessments and any action it has taken, or intends to take, to deal with the incident, and (ii) further information as appropriate, until the action taken to respond to the incident has been concluded or until joint action has been decided by such States. (2) When the severity of such oil pollution incident so justifies, the Party should provide the Organization directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional organization or arrangements with the information referred to in paragraph (1)(b) and (c). (3) When the severity of such oil pollution incident so justifies, other States affected by it are urged to inform the Organization directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional organizations or arrangements of their assessment of the extent of the threat to their interests and any action taken or intended. (4) Parties should use, in so far as practicable, the oil pollution reporting system developed by the Organization when exchanging information and communicating with other States and with the Organization.