1 October 2012: The Australia Maritime and Safety Authority (AMSA), in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), hosted a workshop on the Pacific Islands Regional Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN) in Sydney, as part of a series of five workshops held throughout the Pacific region to review and update aspects of the PACPLAN.

PACPLAN designates Australia as the primary source of assistance for marine pollution incidents in Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

According to SPREP Marine Pollution Advisor Anthony Talouli, PACPLAN provides the framework and modalities through which international assistance is requested and provided in the case of a major spill, and recognizes the inability of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to respond to Tier 3 spills.

Participants at the workshop were provided with information on spill response techniques, with a focus on the support that can be provided by Australia. The workshop was funded by AMSA and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). [AMSA Press Release] [SPREP Press Release] [PACPLAN Documentation]