(1) Preamble (explaining the purpose and use of the plan and indicating how the ship’s plan relates to other shore-based plans);
(2) Reporting requirements (when to report, information required, who to contact); (3) Steps to control discharge (in both operational spills such as bunker spills and cargo loading/discharge spills, and spills resulting from casualties); (4) National and local co-ordination (information to help the master initiating action by the coastal State); (5) Additional information (non-mandatory) (such as plan review procedures, training and drill procedures, record-keeping procedures, public affairs policy of the owners/operators, etc. ).