Government Protocols for Multinational Response Commander Paul R. Lattanzi, USCG Senior IMO consultant to RAC REMPEITC - Caribe Safe Seas Clean Seas Symposium, October 20, 2015
WHY DO WE NEED MULTINATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS? 33 states and territories High volume of oil transportation Diverse/fragile ecology Economy = tourism and Tourism = healthy environment Wind and currents don t respect political borders
VULNERABILITY OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND GULF OF MEXICO High-risk area The Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) is considered to be a highly ecologically sensitive area and is classified as high-risk due to a history of major oil spills and chemical spill incidents. Protection of the environment is imperative for the health of marine organisms, humans, and the ever-increasing tourist economies.
RAC REMPEITC - Caribe Established in 1995, RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe is hosted by the government of Curaçao and staffed with subject matter experts voluntarily seconded by states signatory to the Cartagena Convention of 1983. Activities are largely funded by IMO, UNEP and UNDP. RAC REMPEITC Mission: To assist states and territories of the Wider Caribbean Region to develop sustainable national and regional capabilities to implement international standards to prevent and respond to threats to the marine environment from shipping. RAC REMPEITC Vision: A resilient region where all nations share best practices and resources and effectively implemented the conventions know to be prudent measures to prevent and respond to marine pollution
PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS Cartagena Convention and Oil Spills Protocol OPRC 1990 and HNS 2000 Protocol Civil Liability and Fund Conventions MARPOL Convention Anti-fouling Systems Convention Ballast Water Management Convention and other relevant legal instruments
SHIP-SOURCE OIL SPILLS Regulatory impact on the Safety of Shipping Cartagena Convention OPRC ISM CODE AIS Source: ITOPF
RAC REMPEITC CARIBE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
BY THE NUMBERS 2015-2014 33 member states and territories 70 OPRC/HNS activities attended or organized REMPEITC in numbers 2005-2014 36 National OPRC/HNS activities organized 22 Regional OPRC/HNS activities organized Over 1200 attendees of OPRC/HNS training
CARTAGENA CONVENTION 1976: Caribbean Environment Program (Regional Seas) CARTAGENA CONVENTION Adopted in 1983 In force since 1986 Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills Adopted in 1983 In force since 1986 Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Adopted in 1990 In force since 2000 Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS) Adopted in 1999 In force since 2010 RAC/REMPEITC SPAW RAC CIMAB IMA (Curacao) (Guadeloupe) (Cuba) (Trinidad)
CARTAGENA CONVENTION OIL SPILL PROTOCOL Article 3: General provisions Co-operate in taking all necessary measures, both preventive and remedial, against oil spill incidents Establish and maintain the means of responding to oil spill incidents (enactment of relevant legislation, contingency plans, the identification and development of the capability to respond to an oil spill incident and the designation of an authority responsible for the implementation of this Protocol Article 4: Exchange of information Article 5: Oil pollution reporting procedures Article 6: Mutual assistance including expedited customs and immigration procedures for the movement of technical personnel, equipment and material necessary for responding to an oil spill incident Article 8: Promotion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation
OPRC 1990 International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation Adoption: 30 November 1990 Entry into force: 13 May 1995 Key objectives Provide a global framework for international cooperation and mutual assistance in combating major oil spill incidents Parties to the Convention are required to take all appropriate measures to prepare for and respond to oil pollution incident
OPRC 1990 Article 6: National & regional systems for preparedness and response Each Party is required to: Establish a national system for responding promptly and effectively to oil pollution incidents which should include as a minimum: Designated national authorities and focal points responsible for oil pollution preparedness & response; oil pollution reporting procedures and arrangements for handling requests for assistance National contingency plan Establish either individually or through bilateral or multilateral co-operation and in co-operation with the oil & shipping industries, port authorities and other relevant entities: A minimum level of pre-positioned oil spill combating equipment A program of exercises for oil pollution response organizations and training of relevant personnel Detailed plans & communication capabilities for responding to an oil pollution incident A mechanism or arrangement to co-ordinate the response to an oil pollution incident with the capabilities to mobilize the necessary resources
CARTAGENA CONVENTION RATIFICATION
REGIONAL OPRC PLANS 14
BENEFITS OF REGIONAL OPRC PLANS Provides access to resources and expertise. Shared information on response, actions, and risks. Policies for alternative countermeasures aligned. Customs and immigrations processes streamlined. Joint training and exercise opportunities.
SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES Fast pace of technological advances: requires that governments work collaboratively to: understand these new systems regulate in a consistent manner that encourages efficiency safeguards against catastrophic failure
CARIBBEAN ISLAND OPRC PLAN We are examining its expansion to all countries/territories signatory to Cartagena Convention and OPRC Protocol (including continental countries). Incorporate best practices of the Multilateral Technical Operations Plan (offshore risks).
CENTRAL AMERICAN OPRC PLAN Begun in 2004 COCATRAM RAC REMPEITC ARPEL Published in May 2015 RAC REMPEITC encourages the early review of the plan and supports adoption of the plan Alignment between CAOP and the Caribbean Island OPRC Plan
OFFSHORE PREPAREDNESS Spills generated by offshore facilities considered in OPRC Not addressed in Caribbean Island OPRC or Central American OPRC Plan United States caught off guard by Macundo Spill Area for improvement
MULTILATERAL TECHNICAL OPERATING PROCEDURES Multilateral Technical Operations Plan (offshore risks). Participating Countries Bahamas Cuba Jamaica Mexico United States Develops multilateral procedures for Sharing technical expertise Conducting exercises Emergency notifications Response assistance Incorporate into the Caribbean Island OPRC Plan?
SECTION II OF IMO S MANUAL ON OIL POLLUTION Contingency Planning - Oldest section IMO Manual on Oil Pollution Post Macundo lessons learned Began work in 2013 Multinational workgroup established at PPR2 in 2015 First draft promulgated in July 2015 Final draft to be submitted to PPR3 in 2016
RETOS Developed by ARPEL Used by regulators, countries, and industry alike. This system allows the user to identify the criteria that are not met or are incomplete and guide him with international best practices that will help him close the gaps identified. Global Improvement Plan https://arpel.org/library/publicatio n/341/
ON THE HORIZON Bi-Lateral Response Agreement?
THANK YOU CDR Paul Lattanzi plattanzi@cep.unep.org +5999 689 1893 www.cep.unep.org/racrempeitc