Activities
Based on the legal framework detailed by the International Convention OPRC 1990:
- Parties are required to establish a training programme for relevant personnel in oil spill preparedness and response (Article 6) undertaken directly, or through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international bodies, as appropriate, regarding oil pollution preparedness and response, to support those Parties who request technical assistance to train personnel ( Article 9);
- The relevant international and regional organizations are encouraged to develop a comprehensive training programme concerning oil pollution preparedness and response
(Resolution 7), and
- The Member States of IMO need to make available the expertise necessary for the development and implementation of these training programmes (Resolution 7).
IMO training check here
In this regard, IMO has developed and continuously supports the delivery of the OPRC Model Training Courses in the field of OPRC and HNS available in the online catalogue.
OPRC
- OPRC Introductory Level: This course provides an overview of the main sources of oil released into the marine environment and their relative importance, along with the principal causes of marine oil spills. It is aimed at personnel likely to be associated with, or directly involved in a response to an oil spill incident
- OPRC Level 1: First Responder: This course is to prepare specific personnel with increasing responsibility at the scene of an incident. The main characteristics of first responders are that they are able to manage and lead a smaller group of responders, and must have basic technical and communication skills
- OPRC Level 2: Supervisor/On-scene Commander: This training prepares staff who are equipped to co-ordinate and manage the responses; including co-ordinating input from other organizations, and who can make decisions on response strategies and tactics to be used in the clean-up
- OPRC Level 3: Administrator and Senior Manager: This course is designed for high level officers and executives and also includes handling media issues.
HNS
- Introductory Course on the Response to HNS in the Marine Environment - Operational Level (for the First Responders, Supervisors and On-scene commanders)
- Introductory Course on the Response to HNS in the Marine Environment - Manager Level (for the Administrators and Senior Managers)
REMPEC training
As part of its mandate and legal framework in the Mediterranean (the 2002 the Prevention and Emergency Protocol), REMPEC assists Parties to maintain and promote their contingency plans, including the preparation of their personnel for operations in cases of emergency.
In addition to the delivery of the IMO Model Courses, training is organized by REMPEC, with the support of international experts, at national, sub-regional and regional level. Over XX people took part in REMPEC training courses, covering topics detailed in the list below:
- characteristics of oil and HNS spills,
- Risk assessment,
- contingency planning,
- response strategies,
- monitoring and evaluation,
- forecasting and modelling,
- sensitivity mapping,
- the use of dispersants,
- deployment of containment, recovery and protection systems,
- shoreline clean-up management and techniques,
- oiled shoreline assessment,
- volunteers and personnel management,
- media relations,
- waste management,
- liability, compensation and cost recovery, and
- the legal framework for international cooperation
Contingency Planning check here
Sub-regional Agreements and Plans:
- Cyprus, Egypt and Israel
- France, Italy and Monaco
- Croatia, Italy and Slovenia
- Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
Workshops and Seminars:
HNS related Workshops & Trainings:
OPRC-HNS related LIFE Projects:
OPRC-HNS Technical Trainings check here
Clean-up techniques
Dispersant
Sensitivity Mapping
Forecasting Models
Train the trainers
Oil pollution compensation
IPIECA
Oil Spill exercises - Good practice guidelines for the development of an effective exercise programme (IPIECA, 2014)