1. South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
REGIONAL OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSES INCLUDING CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR South Asian Seas REGION
Dr. Abas Basir
Director General
South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)

2. South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
Is an inter-governmental organization of 8 member states,
Established in
Registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations as a Multilateral Organization in accordance with the Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Its mission is to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in South Asia
Member countries:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

3. SACEP and South Asian Seas Programme (SASP)
SACEP also acts as the secretariat for the South Asia Seas Programme (SASP).
It was initiated, with the support from UNEP, in 1995.
The overall objective of the SASP is to protect and manage the marine environment and related coastal ecosystems of the region in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.
Its Member countries are: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

4. SASP Priority area of Works
The SASP Action Plan has identified the following as its priority area of works:
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM);
oil‐spill contingency planning;
human resource development; and
the environmental effects of land‐based activities.

5. Potential Partners IMO UNEP-GPA
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
FAO
Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem
USDA
Private Sector/Shipping Associations
Other regional and sub-regional agencies

6. Resources of Marine Oil Spill
Maritime oil spill risks arise from
non-tanker shipping
carriage of refined products
offshore exploration and production operations
Transfer of oil cargoes at sea
Routine shipping operations at ports – bunkering
Ship recycling
illegal discharges from the large volume of shipping within the region
Response to a major spill at sea would require the co-operation of the other States in the Region

7. Major Oil and Chemical spills Incidences
Source: ITOPF, 2003
Other spills recorded
M V Meliksha Incident – Sri Lanka The ship was reported to be carrying mt fertilizer and about 200 mt of heavy fuel oil.
Marina Sedna – Sri Lanka mt of fuel oil was contained the ship.
M/T Granba Chemical tanker Accident – Sri Lanka Carried mt of sulfuric acid MSC Chitra – India – 2010 – heavy oil and diesel

8. Bangladesh –27th September 2010
Framework for Regional Responses to the OIL Spill Risks
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Co-operation on the Response to Oil and Chemical Pollution in the SAS Region and The Regional Oil and Chemical Pollution Contingency Plan for South Asia
The MoU and Regional Plan require member countries to co-operate in responding to major marine pollution incidents occurring in their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), territorial seas and internal waters which are affected or likely to affect the marine environment, the coast or related interests of one or more of the Parties.
All member countries have signed the MoU.
Maldives – 13th October 2009
Pakistan – 22nd July 2010
Bangladesh –27th September 2010
Sri Lanka- 17th December 2014
India – 8th May 2018

9. Cooperation mechanism Under the MoU and the Regional Plan
Contingency Planning
Reporting Marine Pollution Incidents
Assistance and Co-peration in Cases of Emergency
Exchange of information

10. THANK YOU …..