The capacity building and resilience to respond to pollution incidents in Solomon Islands and the Pacific has been boosted through a UK-supported training programme led by the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP).
In collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Ambipar Limited, the training aims to increase the knowledge of pollution responders during an incident, including through witnessing the practical deployment of equipment, a statement from the UK Embassy and partners this week said.
The training programme has been developed to incorporate the country National Plan (NatPlan) to tailor the training modules and scenarios to best prepare participants to manage an incident based on their specific requirements.
The training which began Monday this week will be split where all participants will receive an IMO Level 2 certificate, which supports on-site supervision of a spill event.
There will also the opportunity for more senior staff to complete additional training in the evenings to receive an IMO Level 3 certificate, to increase knowledge on managing media and stakeholder management during spills and how to complete compensation claims.
At the end of the workshop today, Friday, March 7, participants will have a greater understanding of responding to an incident using their NatPlan, the steps to follow during an incident to have a more effective response and knowledge on pollutant types which will improve identification and early management of pollution.
The training has been scoped in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Maritime Association (SIMA), Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA) and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)), with the VMSA holding the same training programme the following week which will increase resilience across the Pacific.
Participants at the week-long workshop includes staff from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management’s Conservation division; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource and National Fisheries Development; the Solomon Islands National University.
Others include private shipping company owners; provincial premiers; National Disaster Management Office; Ministry of Health and Medical Services; Solomon Ports; Markworth Oil Company Limited and other private sector organisations.
