Regional meeting on oil spill preparedness and response

The Director, accompanied by the Head of the External Relations Department, took part in the first meeting of the national authorities responsible for oil spill preparedness and response in the South Asia region, from 26 to 28 February 2014 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This meeting was jointly organised by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and IMO as the first step in a three-year project aimed at facilitating the effective implementation of the OPRC Convention, including the existing Memorandum of Understanding for regional cooperation in case of emergency between the five maritime States of the region (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
A significant part of the workshop was dedicated to the risk of oil pollution from shipping and the Funds were invited to present on the topic of the international regime for oil pollution compensation. The workshop covered a number of important issues and most importantly approved the programme of activities for the next three years. The delegations of Bangladesh and Pakistan expressed an interest in a possible workshop or seminar concerning the benefits of ratifying and implementing the 1992 Civil Liability and Fund Conventions.
Representatives from ITOPF, IPIECA and OSRL also took part in the workshop as industry experts.