Tiered Preparedness and Response is recognised as the basis on which to establish a robust oil spill preparedness and response framework. The established three tiered structure allows the planner to describe how an effective response to any oil spill will be provided; from small operational spillages to a worst case release at sea or on land. Using a newly-developed system which identifies fifteen response planning categories, the structure provides a mechanism for the planner to identify how individual elements of capability will be cascaded into the theatre of response operations.