A national workshop in Trinidad and Tobago is providing government workers with crucial skills to prepare for and respond to oil spills.
From 16 to 19 January, 45 personnel and managers from across the country are undergoing IMO training to deepen their knowledge and skills to be able to handle such disasters.
Expert presentations and group discussions will cover areas such as hazards to responders, fates and effects of oil in the environment, oil spill contingency planning, response strategies and tactics and management of response resources.
The workshop is delivered by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre - Caribe (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe), through the IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). Representatives from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are providing expertise, supported by the Ministry of Works and Transport of Trinidad and Tobago.
The RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe is one of four Regional Activity Centres of the Caribbean Environment Program (UNEP-CAR/RCU). Activities are largely funded by IMO, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The workshop is aligned with IMO’s Model Course (Level 2) on the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC).
The IMO offers a comprehensive training programme covering all aspects of oil spill planning, response and management, targeted at relevant personnel, from first responders to senior managers. These OPRC Model Courses, developed by international experts from governments and industry, include four levels of competency and are designed to link to a country’s national contingency plan.