21 March 2013: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues, IPIECA, have launched the Global Initiative for South East Asia (GI-SEA) Programme on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response.

The GI-SEA focuses on improving regional oil spill preparedness and response capabilities in response to higher levels of shipping traffic, exploration and production activities in the region. The GI-SEA will support the objectives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Oil Spill Response Action Plan (ASEAN-OSRAP) being developed with support from the IMO Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP). The Programme also will create a forum for joint action on practical activities such as training, workshops and joint exercises related to oil spill preparedness and response.

The Programme was launched at a regional workshop taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 20-21 March 2013, and attended by high-level representatives from Government and industry.

The Global Initiative was established in 1996 by IMO and IPIECA to facilitate cooperation between governments and the oil and gas industry. The Initiative aims to help countries develop national structures and capability for oil spill preparedness and response. In addition to the GI-SEA, the two organizations launched the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF) in 2006. [IMO Press Release]