Report Oil Spill Preparedness in Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean - Workshop Report

This report covers a regional workshop on cooperation in preparedness and response to marine pollution incidents in Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, held from 3 to 5 March 2020 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The three-day workshop brought together International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Nairobi Convention focal points responsible for oil spill preparedness and response issues in the Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region to promote the implementation of the OPRC Convention [1] and OPRC-HNS Protocol [2] by strengthening regional cooperation in response to marine pollution incidents. The workshop built on the progress previously made in the region with the implementation of several capacity building initiatives including two World Bank funded projects implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). These projects had led to a regional agreement for the development of a regional contingency plan promoting cooperation, linked to the Nairobi Convention and its Emergency Protocol. A preparatory report to the workshop, circulated in advance, provided the participants with the context and background to the previous projects, activities and initiatives

1.1 Objectives

The workshop addressed the issue of the establishment of a regional centre or related mechanism for spill preparedness and response, an issue which had continued to be raised by Member States as a priority need for the region. In this connection the workshop sought clarification and agreement on both the remit or mandate, as well as the likelihood of a sustained funding mechanism for the future establishment of such a centre or mechanism. The workshop examined the mandate and function of existing regional centres around the world. Against these broad objectives, discussions at the workshop focused on: