Pollution response course held in Andaman
Kolkata, Aug 24 (IANS) An important six‑day course in Oil Pollution Response (OPR) and handling of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) was organised by the Pollution Response Team of Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair).
Among those who attended the OPR Course (OPRC) Level 1 and HNS Introductory Course were Indian Coast Guard personnel and representatives from the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), Andaman and Nicobar Police, Police Marine Force, Forest Department, Fire Services Department, Directorate of Shipping Services and Directorate of Disaster Management.
Such a course is crucial for the Andamans, which is an ecologically sensitive zone located close to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, including the Strait of Malacca through which a large portion of global seaborne cargo moves. The islands are also connected by ships and ferries, and any unchecked oil spill could have devastating impacts on marine life and fragile biodiversity.
The OPRC Convention of 1990 mandates governments to establish programmes of exercises for oil pollution response organisations and training of relevant personnel. It also calls on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop a comprehensive training programme in cooperation with governments and industry. Following this, the IMO developed a range of training courses addressing all aspects of oil spill planning, response and management, known as the OPRC Model Courses.
These courses were designed by an international group of experts from governments and industry. Available in CD format, they include instructor’s manuals, participants’ manuals and training aids. The IMO courses on oil pollution preparedness and response have been developed for four levels of competency, with the Level 1 Course intended for first responders.
The IMO has said, “These courses, when properly linked to a country’s national contingency plan, can be used to train staff responsible for the conduct and management of an effective response to a marine oil spill.”
The OPRC‑HNS Protocol 2000 also requires governments to establish training of relevant personnel and programmes of exercises for response to pollution from hazardous and noxious substances. The IMO developed two model training courses for preparedness and response to marine incidents involving HNS, aimed at providing practical training and guidance.
The new courses were designed to complement existing IMO OPRC model courses for preparedness and response to marine oil spills and to support countries in acceding to and implementing the OPRC Convention 1990 and its HNS Protocol 2000.
“Through hands‑on training in Oil Spill Response and HNS spill management, the course enhanced operational skills, preparedness, teamwork and seamless inter‑agency coordination, enabling a swift and effective response to marine pollution incidents and helping keep our seas clean and safe,” the Andaman and Nicobar Command posted on X.
–IANS
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