Working together
Collaboration with strategic partners is vital to the working group’s success in enhancing preparedness and response to oil spills. The Oil Spill Working Group (OSWG) has promoted the message of industry, government and other key stakeholders working together since its inception.
Partners of the OSWG contribute considerable technical expertise to the outputs of the group. Strong links have been formed with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) and other key organizations.
A key objective of the OSWG is to promote best practice sharing between key stakeholders in the field of oil spill preparedness and response, through organizing meetings, workshops and playing an active role in the international oil spill conferences.
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Developing and maintaining a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping
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The focal point for technical issues and as a forum for exchanging information
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Coordinating the three-year oil spill conference cycle
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Discussing key issues relating to oil spill preparedness and response
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Oil Spill Response Joint Industry Project
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International Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a UN agency that develops and maintains a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping. Its remit includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. The IMO is responsible for developing and adopting the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC).
The OSWG is the oil and gas industry’s main interface with the IMO. IPIECA’s formal observer status at the agency enables the OSWG to take part in the biannual Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meetings and OPRC Technical Group meetings. The OSWG therefore contributes to the development of tools and guidance that help countries to implement the OPRC Convention effectively.
Industry Technical Advisory Committee
Members of the Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) come from the oil spill response community within the oil industry, and other organizations that have oil pollution preparedness and response as their principal goal. ITAC acts as a focal point for technical issues and as a forum for exchanging information on preparedness, oil spill response operations, response technology and response training.
ITAC often investigates the technical issues that arise at OSWG meetings and contributes expertise to IPIECA’s Oil spill report series. The OSWG, on the other hand, considers issues arising at ITAC that require a more strategic approach.
International conference cycle
Three major oil spill conferences have emerged in recent years: Interspill, the International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) and Spillcon.
The conference organising committees have now coordinated their events and moved to establish a three year cycle with an annual rotation between Europe, the Americas, and Australasia. IPIECA is the only organisation involved in the organisation of all three conferences and as such has adopted a leadership role in coordinating the three year cycle. IPIECA’s involvement in the conference planning helps to ensure consistent industry messages are delivered across the global arena.
Meetings and workshops
The IPIECA Oil Spill Working Group organises meetings and workshops which bring together stakeholders to discuss key issues relating to oil spill preparedness and response.
These events aim to combine a balanced mix of governments and industry, national oil companies and international oil companies, and members of the international oil spill community. Regional workshops are held to hear directly from informed regional and country representatives what the regional risks and opportunities are, and to discuss possible initiatives to further enhance capability in the region.
Oil Spill Response Joint Industry Project
The Oil Spill Response JIP (OSR-JIP) was established in 2011 to address the nineteen recommendations of the Global Industry Response Group (GIRG), which was tasked with identifying learning opportunities both on causation and in respect of the response to the Macondo incident. The OSR- JIP is managed by IPIECA on behalf of OGP in recognition of its long-standing experience with Oil Spill Response matters.
Categories:
- Oil spill preparedness
