Key agencies learn to respond to oil spills |08 September 2010

 
Mr Dogley addressing the gathering

During the sessions, people from key agencies concerned will meet to upgrade their skills and knowledge of how best to combat such incidents.

The course is part of the Global Environment Facility-Western Indian Ocean Marine Highway Development and Coastal and Marine Contamination Prevention Project (GEF-WIOMHD), and aims to train people involved to carry out national and regional oil spill contingency plans.

The three-day workshop is being held within the framework of a contract between the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and consultancy firm BRLi-OTRA to carry out two components of the project.

These are capacity building to prevent coastal and marine contamination, and capacity building for regional oil and chemical spill response.

This training is in two parts – one session for onsite responders and on-scene commanders, and the second for staff of the national incident command organisation.

Present at the opening ceremony yesterday at the International Conference Centre were principal secretary for environment Didier Dogley, high officials from concerned departments, Seychelles Coast Guard commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette and sub-regional project coordinator Raj H Prayag.

Also there were Lindsay Page-Jones, the consultant in training of national incident management staff, and Frédéric Marignac, the consultant in national training of onsite responders and on-scene commanders.

Others included trainees from bodies such as the coast guard, Police Department, Department of Risk and Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue Services Agency and district authorities.

The project encompasses Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion. It has two main focus areas, the first being in relation to the marine highway and the second being linked to the environment.

Mr Prayag said the project has entered a critical phase, as revision of the national plans in all nine countries has been completed and the team are now embarking on the training phase for all partners.

He said training for trainers will be organised at the end of this round of workshops in all the countries taking part, as well as a training programme at “tier three level” – for high-level officers who will be responsible for the overall management of a spill.

“We are also, this October, approving a regional oil spill contingency plan and are signing an agreement for cooperation and to provide help during a spill, at national or regional level,” he said.

In his opening address, Mr Dogley said our country lies very close to one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and our economy depends on tourism, fisheries and natural resources from our coastal zone.

“This should make us realise how important it is for us to have a knowledgeable and capable team on the ground here in Seychelles,” he said.

Mr Dogley said Seychelles must continue to train and upgrade the skills of key people who will have leading roles in such scenarios.

He said this project is helping Seychelles to move forward and build a larger team with greater knowledge and skills for the effective management of spills.

In the future, more people such as staff from non-governmental organisations, schools, businesses and local communities will be involved in such training, he added.

Mr Dogley said oil exploration and exploitation in our region are now gaining momentum.

“Developments and activities in our waters will increase the amount of heavy oil in the sub-region of the western Indian Ocean, and with it will come more risks to the sensitive environment of the region,” he said.

Pollution from such incidents does not have barriers, and this is where international and regional cooperation becomes important, hence the role of the draft regional plan.

“With this regional plan and oil spill centre, it is expected that there will be stronger cooperation between countries of the western Indian Ocean, leading to an exchange of expertise and skills between them,” he said.

Mr Dogley added that Seychelles must prepare urgently for any eventuality and has to be able to meet such challenges with adequate capacity in its local agencies.

The objective of the training for onsite responders and on-scene commanders is to familiarise them with the national oil spill contingency plan (NOSCP) and the incident management response organisation.

They will be trained in the main types of offshore response techniques and onshore safety during the operations, setting up a clean-up site, waste management and equipment maintenance.
 
Training of staff from the national incident command organisation will include familiarisation with the NOSCP and the incident management response organisation.

Incident management procedures for each cell of the national organisation – including evaluation/planning, operations, logistics and finance – will also be addressed.

During the three days, trainees will also be involved in practical exercises.