Sub-Regional OPRC Convention Workshop on: Oil Spill Response Equipment, Simulation Exercises and Co-ordination with Neighboring Countries

On May 18th, CDR Keith Donohue presented during the International Session on a paper he co-authored, titled: “A True Roadmap for Response Preparedness Capacity Building in Developing States.”

This was a week-long oil spill response course held at the Colombia Naval Base in Cartagena, and attended by several components of the Colombian Navy, such as: Coast Guard; Marines; Diving and Rescue; Caribbean Surface Fleet; Emergency Response; and the Colombian General Maritime Authority (DIMAR). CDR Keith Donohue presented topics on international, regional and national oil spill response structures, agreements, arrangements and contingency plans for the WCR during a daylong workshop within the course. The full-day workshop was attended by major oil and gas companies operating in Colombia, as well as representatives from other international companies and institutions under the Colombian Oil Association (ACP).

The conference brought together over 250 shipping executives, industry leaders, port authorities and renowned speakers to address topics such as value deployment; cyber security; inspection and compliance; air freight shipping; Caribbean Maritime Business; and marine pollution from ships. CDR Keith Donohue presented on topics related to IMO and RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe’s recent activities aimed at building capacity for the 28 countries and 10 territories surrounding the WCR in order to better ratify and implement international conventions and instruments related to oil spill prevention/response, ballast water management and other pollution discharges from ships.

Sponsored by The Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Cayman Islands and the North American Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA), this workshop’s focus was on gaining regional support to help drive better implementation of the International Convention to Prevent Pollution from Ship. In attendance were over 75 participants representing governments, non-government organizations, and commercial maritime interests of the Caribbean. CDR Keith Donohue presented on RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe’s MARPOL activities over the last 21 years, as well as planned activities for 2017.

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Keith M. Donohue, Seconded to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a consultant at RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe attended as a guest speaker and oil spill technical expert – he presented on “Crisis Communication During an Oil Spill” with Mr. Thomas Liebert of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, London.

A five-day Third Regional Task Force Meeting on the Ratification and Implementation of the IMO Convention on Ballast Water Management (BWM) was held in Panama City, Panama, from 5-9 June 2017. Participants were informed of the present status of the BWM Convention, the current activities and progress being made at the global level, the current status of the Convention in the region and lessons learned from Malaysia, Bahamas, Colombia, Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago in their experiences with BWM. The meeting also provided delegates with scientific and technical presentations that addressed marine invasive species in the Caribbean and across the globe, methodologies used in the designation of ballast water exchange zones, and lessons learned from the US Coast Guard (USCG) BWM Program and the US National Ballast Water Information Clearinghouse. Delegates agreed on updates to the SAP and steps to be taken towards implementation of the SAP.

The objective of the five-day workshop was to emphasize the importance of regional contingency planning and the implementation of incident management systems as included in IMO’s 2012 Guidance on the Implementation of an Incident Management System (IMS). Regional cooperation on oil spill preparedness and response was enhanced through this workshop for participants of 13 Wider Caribbean countries. The workshop improved participants’ knowledge relating to oil spill preparedness, response and cooperation; and provided an opportunity to take part in practical and theoretical exercises.

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Keith M. Donohue, Seconded to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a consultant at the Regional Activity Center - Regional Maritime Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center for the Wider Caribbean (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe), presented RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe's perspective at the 2016 Clean Gulf Conference and Exhibition during the Response and Recovery Session titled: " International Challenges Within the GOM and Caribbean Ocean"

This regional workshop was organized in accordance with RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe’s proposal to IMO’s Technical Co-operation Committee for the Center’s activities of the 2015-2017 biennium. The objective of the four-day workshop was to provide training on oil spill preparedness and contingency planning, as well as developing hands-on working knowledge of the use, and advantages of the ARPEL Manual and Readiness Evaluation Tool for Oil Spills (RETOS™) in analyzing and identifying gaps in national oil spill preparedness and response programs throughout the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). Significant information was gathered during this workshop regarding the status of the oil spill preparedness and response programs of the following participant countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama. During the workshop, senior maritime representatives of each participant country were able to conduct assessments of their respective national oil spill preparedness and response programs, national response systems, and national contingency plans by using simple table top exercises and RETOS™. Each participant also departed the workshop with the outline components of a strategic plan framework that can be directly used for implementing improvement plans for building capacity and making needed changes.