An Overview of

NATIONAL OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

‘Comprehensive Disaster Management

Concept’

Presented by: Mr. Brent E. Williamson, BSc(Hons), MSc, LLM, Esq.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this presentation is

to provide an overview of the

Bahamas Government National Oil

Spill Plan

INTRODUCTION:

• Torrey Cannon 1967;

• The Amoco Cadiz 1977;

• EXXON VALDEZ- 1987;

• International Convention on Oil Pollution 1990;

• Regional Maritime Pollution Emergency Information and Training Centre for the Wider Caribbean Region;

• Caribbean Islands Oil Pollution and Preparedness;

• Bahamas Government National Oil Spill Contingency Plan;

• National Emergency Management Agency

Commitment to Safety of Life at

Sea and Pollution Control

International Maritime Conventions

Statutory Provisions

Bahamas Maritime Authority

Port Department

Department of Environment Health Services

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

Royal Bahamas Police Force

National Maritime Action Plan

Safety Record

Training and Awareness

International Conventions

International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Arrest of Sea-Going

Ships, 1952

Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organisation (INMARSAT), 1976

Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FACILITATION), 1965, as amended

International Convention on Load Lines (LL), 1966 and the 1988 Protocol

International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships (TONNAGE), 1969

International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution damage, 1969 (CLC) and the Protocols of 1976 and 1992

International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Oil Pollution

Casualties (INTERVENTION), 1969 and the Protocol of 1973

International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil

Pollution Damage (FUND), 1971, Protocol of 1976 and Protocol of 1992

Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), 1972

International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), 1973, as modified

by the Protocol of 1978 Annex I, II, III, V and Protocol of 1997, Annex VI

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1960

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 as amended and the Protocols of 1978 and 1988.

International Convention cont.

Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL), 1974

and 1976 Protocol

International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1976

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers

(STCW), 1978, as amended

International Telecommunication Convention (Montreux), 1965 and the Radio Regulations, 1968

International Health Regulations (Geneva), 1969

Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920 (ILO No. 7)

Seaman‟s Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 (ILO No. 22)

Accommodation of Crew Convention (Revised), 1949 (ILO No. 92)

Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (ILO No. 147)

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation

(SUA), 1988 and the 1988 Protocol

International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC),

1990

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships ,2001 (AFS

Convention)

International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker

Convention)

Categories of Spills

Tier I spills are “minor” incidents involving a spill of 0 – 50 barrels (less than 2,000 gallons) that are highly localised in nature (e.g. a fuel transfer facility, or at a terminal or a refinery).

Tier II spills are “moderate” incidents involving a spill of greater than 50 and less than 150 barrels (less than 6,000 gallons).

Tier III spills overwhelm all local/national resources and demands external reinforcement from nearby states

Contact has been maintained with international bodies such

as CCA and other international bodies in responding to Tier

III spills!!!

The Threat – BAHAMAS

PERSPECTIVE

Oil Storage – Freeport, Nassau and the

Family Islands

Maritime Traffic

Lightering Operations

Industrial Operations

Offshore Operations- Regionally and

potentially nationally

The Scope of The Plan

To establish appropriate detection, reporting and assessment systems

To establish a viable operational organisation with a defined chain of command and related responsibilities;

To establish an incident reporting procedure

To Identify high risk areas

To identify priority coastal areas for protection and clean up

Scope Continued

•To identify what oil spill equipment is available to The

Bahamas

•To Identify external resources of expert advice and

equipment and establishes procedures

•To identify relevant Compensation Funds

•To define The Bahamas powers of intervention

•To explain the problems associated with oil spills and

appropriate response techniques

•To Establish Dispersant Spraying Policy

Oil Spill Committee

• National Emergency Management Agency

Ministry of the Environment Port Department

Royal Bahamas Police Force

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

Department of Environment Health Services

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Housing

Ministry of Public Works and Transport

Bahamas Electrical Corporation

Bahamas Telecommunication Company

Ministry of Finance

Meteorological Department

Customs Department

Immigration Department

Civil Aviation

Attorney General Office

Bahamas Information Services

Bahamas National Trust

Salvation Army

Bahamas Red Cross

BASRA

Oil Companies

Freeport Power

Freeport Harbour Company

Maritime, commerce and shipping associations

CCA

NON - GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

(International, Private and Volunteers)

What is the role of OSCAC?

To coordinate resources from all sectors

for oil spill preparedness and response.

NORTHWES

T

CENTR

AL

SOUTHEAST

EXTR

EME N

ORTHWES

T

THECOMMONWEALTH OF

THE BAHAMAS

ZONES OF THE BAHAMAS

National Early Warning

Detection System

Red: An oil slick is likely to impact a coastline within 3 – 6 hours.

Orange: An oil slick is likely to impact a coastline within 7 – 12 hours.

Yellow: An oil slick is likely to impact a coastline within 13 – 24 hours.

Green: An oil slick is likely to impact a coastline within 25 – 36

To ensure the safety of lives and property

and to minimise any damaged caused as a

result of an oil spill

To have a structured method of response

To have clear communications during and

after major incidents

To provide assistance to communities in

need

Goals and Objectives

FOCAL POINTS and Key Personnel

•Lead Agency- National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA);

• Focal Point Agency- Ministry of The Environment;

• Spill Notification- Port Department;

• Response Agency- Port Department;

• National Operational Contact (under MARPOL)- Bahamas Maritime

Authority;

• Response Manager;

• On Scene Commander at Sea;

• On Scene Commander on Land;

• Incident Commander;

• Response Coordinator

Response Policy

• Containment

• Recovery

• Chemical Dispersants

• Sensitivity mapping

• Health, Safety and Security Plans

• Restoration

• Record Keeping and preparation of claims

• Financial Responsibility

•Training and Exercises

Initial Report

• Port Department

• Defence Force

• The International Airport

• Permanent Secretary

• National Emergency Management Agency

A 24 HOUR DUTY SYSTEM IS IN PLACE AT THE ABOVE

ESTABLISHMENTS!!!

Port Department- initial assessment

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

Response Manager

Cabinet Office

REMPEITC- CARIB

Alerting System

SURVEILLANCE

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

Royal Bahamas Police Force

Port Department

BASRA

LOCAL PRIVATE VESSELS AND

AIRCRAFT

CLEAN UP DECISIONS AND

OPERATIONS

OSCAC

Possible Prevention and reduction

Sensitive areas and priorities

Mobilize Equipment, personnel and

materials from internal and external

sources

Intervention

OSCAC MONITORS ALL ACTITIVES

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT

Minister of Transport and Aviation

DISPOSAL OF RECOVERED OIL

Portable Containers

Permanent Storage- Oil companies, local oil collection companies and Government and quasi government entities

Oil tankers

Note: Tar Balls will be placed in plastic bags and

transported to an agreed disposal site. The

activities are managed by the Department of

Environment Health Services

Restoration of Affected Area

Degree of Clean –up

Contaminated Beaches and marine life

Monitoring program for long-term affect

Limitation of Civil Liability and Fund

Convention

Compensation

Civil Liability Convention

Fund Convention

Ship Owner

Protection and Indemnity Clubs

Record Keeping and Preparation

of Claims

Accurate Record Keeping

Personnel and Equipment Deployed;

OSCAC/On Scene Commanders

After Action Report

Support Agencies Reports

On Scene Commander General Report

Training and Exercises

The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan of Bahamas was exercised in 1996 – combine operational exercise with the Oil Industry and coordinated by CCC, Fort Lauderdale - tabletop and operational response and communication exercise.

The Bahamas attended the REMPEITC-Carib OPRC 90 Training & Exercise Workshop 96, St. Eustatius – April 1996.

The Bahamas participated in the IMO Model Course – Supervisors/On-Scene Commanders for Oil Spills and Train the Trainer Course, Jamaica – June 1996 (Coordinated by REMPEITC-Carib).

The Bahamas participated, on invitation of the Oil Industry, to the Clean Caribbean Co-operative (CCC) Training Courses.

The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan of The Bahamas was reviewed and updated in February 1998.

The Bahamas attended the St. Lucia Carib 98 OPRC Training and Exercise – March 1998 and the St. Kitts and Nevis and MOBEX – April 1998.

The Bahamas exercised the updated NCP in May 1998.

The Bahamas hosted an OPRC Level 1 Course – November 1998

The Bahamas participated in an OPRC Level 2 Course in Ft. Lauderdale, FL – February 1999

The Bahamas participated in an ESI mapping workshop in Trinidad – November 1999

The Bahamas participated in the Regional Workshop on ESI, Sensitivity Mapping and Geographical Information System Workshop for Oil Spill Response in Curacao – March 2004

The Bahamas hosted the Regional OPRC Seminar on Marine Pollution Readiness and Response related to Offshore Units and Regional Cooperation 7th – 9th December 2011

Case Studies

• Allan Judith

• Contrader

• Harbour Spills

• „Phantom‟ Spills

• MSC Eugenia

• M/T Formosa Falcon

The Way Forward

Review Standard Operating Procedures;

Enhance guidelines for international; cooperation and assistance;

Review and update database of personnel and equipment

Enhance oil spill task force;

Review Dispersant policy;

Update sensitivity maps;

Enhance educational and preventive program;

Revise Strategic Management Plan

Training and Exercises

Enhance line of communication and cooperation with national, regional and international partners;

Continuous review ad evaluation of all aspects of the plan

THANK YOU!