Observers from Martinique’s neighbouring island States and Territories have been supported via IMO’s technical cooperation programme to participate in an exercise on oil pollution preparedness, response and cooperation, conducted by the Martinique Prefecture in Fort de France, Martinique, France (6-8 October). The observers from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago were able to participate in the practical exercises and demonstration of the response equipment. They also visited the Fort de France Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. The exercise illustrated the benefits, constraints and difficulties of different response strategies and provided an opportunity to develop improved coordination and communication in the region. The participation of the observers was coordinated by the IMO/UNEP Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center for the Wider Caribbean (REMPEITC-Caribe).