- Countries in the Red Sea region are improving their preparedness and response systems for major marine pollution incidents involving HNS spills.
- A subregional workshop in Hurghada, Egypt, brought together 18 officials from Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen to develop technical skills, improve coordination, and bolster contingency planning for these types of incidents.
Safety4sea reports that countries in the Red Sea region have worked to strengthen their preparedness and response systems for major marine pollution incidents involving oil and hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) spills.
Red Sea countries to improve their pollution response
From 5 – 8 May, a subregional workshop in Hurghada, Egypt, brought together 18 officials from Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen to develop technical skills, improve coordination, and bolster contingency planning for these types of incidents.
As one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, the Red Sea area continues to face maritime security risks related to wider geopolitical tensions, which have led to some maritime incidents.
The workshop aimed to strengthen regional preparedness for marine pollution incidents by building skills in oil spill response, inter-agency coordination, and contingency planning. It emphasized the need for collaboration among Red Sea States, UN bodies, and international partners.
Participants took part in expert-led sessions, table-top exercises, and case study reviews of incidents involving the MV RUBYMAR, MV SOUNION, and ASL BAUHINIA, highlighting the challenges of pollution response in a geopolitically sensitive region.
Hosted by EMARSGA with support from PERSGA and International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s ITCP, the event is expected to improve coordination and enhance response capabilities across the Red Sea region.
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Source: Safety4sea
