The Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD) organised a National Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) workshop held at The Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong from May 16-18, to prepare stakeholders for and effectively respond to oil spills.
Delivered through a collaboration with the Global Initiative for Southeast Asia (GISEA) Project, an initiative under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the workshop brought together national focal points from both private and government agencies through discussion-led sessions that enhanced participants’ understanding of the Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (ROSCP), with a particular focus on the mobilisation and repatriation of people, equipment and material resources in the mutual offer and acceptance of assistance.
The workshop was facilitated by marine pollution experts from ASEAN and the United Kingdom.
MPABD Deputy Chief Executive Mohammed Bahreen bin Dato Haji Hamzah said the workshop aimed to protect the marine and coastal environment by ensuring MPABD and other agencies plan and coordinate an integrated response, through the development and updating of the Sultanate’s marine pollution strategy aligned with international standards and industry best practices.
The key outcomes of the workshop include raising awareness on the key aspects of the OPRC convention, providing a global framework for international cooperation when responding to major incidents or threats of marine pollution, establishing a national system for oil spill preparedness and response, with focus on sustained capacity building and programme funding, fostering regional assistance (ASEAN MoU and ROSCP) and support the development of a roadmap for the ratification and implementation of the OPRC convention.
