IMO and IPIECA continue to improve oil spill response and preparedness planning through their joint Global Initiative (GI) project. IPIECA is the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues.
The Global Initiative South East Asia (GISEA) programme and oil spill response industry representatives, OSRL and ITOPF, supported a workshop on national oil spill contingency planning in Brunei Darussalam (16-18 May) which brought together relevant key stakeholders to raise awareness of key aspects of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) 1990.
The event built upon work already done at a national level to establish a system of preparedness and response to oil spills. The importance of defining and designating key roles and responsibilities within the national oil spill response system was the main focus of the workshop, along with the development of national capacity for preparedness and response, working with industry in the event of a spill, and the development of contingency plans and training, and practical training programmes.
Key outcomes included advances in the updating of Brunei Darussalam's National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP).
GISEA was launched by IMO and IPIECA in 2013 to increase collaboration in the region on oil spill preparedness and response, and to provide a forum for joint action, focusing on practical activities such as training, workshops and joint exercises in the field.