Updates from the Ipieca-IMO Global Initiative H1 2024

OSPRI and Ipieca attended the International Oil Spill Conference to share experiences and meet key personnel in their networks.

OSPRI is supporting a Black Sea sub-regional workshop on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation, organised by IMO and hosted by the Romanian Naval Authority in Bucharest.

OSPRI will participate in a Caspian Sea regional oil spill workshop in early October, working with UNEP and IMO.

A full-scale oil spill exercise is planned in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea in August and OSPRI is facilitating the involvement of the relevant national authorities.

Under UNEP auspices, Global Environment Facility (GEF) regional project is discussed for possible launch and implementation in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and OSPRI is facilitating the sensitivity mapping development in Kazakhstan as priority direction of the project.

The GI WACAF is supporting the Congo in reviewing its national spill contingency plan for accidental spills of hydrocarbons and hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). The national workshop was held in January with some work sessions on specific areas such as the organisation of response at sea and on land, but also cross-border cooperation.

GI WACAF has been invited by CIAPOL to attend the national exercise POLLUMAR 2024 in Ivory Coast, as an observer.

The GI WACAF is supporting Liberia with the finalisation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP). In July, GI WACAF will be in Liberia for round table work sessions with all the relevant agencies and personnel in the Technical Committee. The aim is to enable free discussion, test all the elements of the plan so far, and clarify some specific areas such as role and responsibilities.

In Q4, delivery of National workshop around shoreline clean-up for Sierra Leone.

The 10th GI WACAF Regional Conference will be held in Lomé, Togo from 25-28 November.

Participation in the 46th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam alongside IMO; GISEA updated the ASEAN Member on oil spill preparedness activities planned for the region in 2024.

Participation in the National Debrief on the ‘M/T Princess Empress’ Oil Spill Response and Readiness Evaluation Tool for Oil Spills (RETOS) Workshop, hosted by the Philippine Coast Guard; this serves to guide ongoing GISEA support for the updating of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) of the Philippines.

Participation in the biennial sub-regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) for the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas Response Network, hosted by the Philippine Coast Guard; GISEA highlighted practical considerations to facilitate regional integration in oil spill preparedness and response.

Participation in Thailand Oil and Chemical Response Exercise (TOC-EX), 25-26 July.

Delivery of national workshop to support the update to National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and national framework on oil and chemical spill preparedness and response for the Philippines, 29 July-1 August.

Delivery of national workshop on claims handling for Thailand, 3-5 September.