Official Oil Pollution Incident Reporting Sign

Oil Pollution Incident Reporting Sign for SOPEP Compliance

This oil pollution incident reporting sign gives crew the single most important instruction for the first minutes of an oil spill or leak: report it immediately to the Master and the officer on duty, then follow the vessel’s Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) for further handling. The IP0055 oil pollution incident reporting sign keeps that instruction visible at exactly the points where a spill or threat of a spill is most likely to be first noticed.

When to Use This Sign

Post this oil pollution incident reporting sign in engine rooms, bunker stations, oil transfer points, deck valve manifolds, and anywhere fuel, lubricating oil, or oily bilge water is handled or stored. It applies on tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and offshore support vessels alike, since every SOLAS-classed vessel carrying oil or oil products is required to maintain a SOPEP and post reporting instructions near likely incident locations.

Design and Materials

The IP0055 sign is produced on self-adhesive film in your choice of material – non-glow vinyl, or DNV Wheelmark certified Class C / Class D photoluminescent film and a long-duration afterglow in low-light conditions. The film is waterproof and resistant to saltwater and oil residue, making it suitable for engine rooms, bunker stations, and exposed deck locations. The glossy, wipe-clean finish keeps the reporting instructions legible even where oil residue or grime is common, and peel-and-stick installation means no drilling or extra tools are required.

Installation and Use

Clean and dry the mounting surface before applying this oil pollution incident reporting sign, and position it at eye level near bunker stations, oil transfer manifolds, and engine room entry points.

Because a spill can happen quickly and without warning, the sign is deliberately worded as a short, direct instruction rather than a long procedure, so any crew member on watch can act on it immediately without needing to first locate the full SOPEP document.

Compliance and Standards

The sign supports compliance with MARPOL Annex I, which requires oil tankers of 150 gross tonnage and above, and other ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, to carry an approved Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan and to ensure the crew knows how to respond to a reportable incident. For general workplace safety signage guidance relevant to Australian-flagged and Australian-operated vessels, see Safe Work Australia.

Fitting Into a Vessel’s Broader Maintenance and Compliance Plan

An oil pollution incident reporting sign is one visible link in a vessel’s SOPEP, which SOLAS and MARPOL both expect to be documented, drilled, and posted at relevant locations throughout the vessel. Pairing this sign with SOPEP drills and clearly stocked spill-response kits gives inspectors and crew a consistent, visible standard that matches the vessel’s written emergency procedures, reducing the risk of Port State Control deficiencies.

Ordering Information

IP0055 ships ready to install, cut to standard sign dimensions, and ready for immediate use in engine rooms and bunker stations. Browse the full range of IMO compliance posters to outfit every pollution-prevention station on board.