The 20th NOWPAP MERRAC Focal Points Meeting and12th Competent National Authorities Meeting was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 10-13 April 2017. The meeting reviewed the progress of MERRAC activities made during the intersessional period and discussed various technical issues including MERRAC future activities regarding oil and NHS marine pollution preparedness and response, implementation of the NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan, and MERRAC workplan and budget for 2018/2019 biennium under the NOWPAP MTS for 2018-2023. On behalf of the NOWPAP RCU, Dr. LIU Ning reported the progress of the entire NOWPAP activities and its outputs made during the intersessional period. In the session of future MERRAC activities under the NOWPAP MTS 2018-2023, Dr. Lev NERETIN presented the draft NOWPAP MTS 2018-2023 and indicative activities for the next biennium 2018-2019. MERRAC updated the changes of focal points, and oil and HNS spill incidents, the progress of the development of MERRAC information system based on the Web GIS, the development of information sharing platform on oil and HNS spills, the development of a technical report on oiled wildlife (mainly birds and marine mammals) response, as well as sea-based marine litter activities.
Moreover, MERRAC presented the “Establishment of a Procedure for Exchange of Oil Sample for Transboundary Marine Pollution Incidents”. Participants discussed associated technical, administrative, financial and legal issues. In the Twelfth Competent National Authorities Meeting for NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan, MERRAC updated the activities related to the NOWPAP trainings and exercises during intersessional periods. The meeting invited Japan and China to introduce the results of the 18th BRAVO exercise and 6th DELATA exercise, respectively. Member states have shared the latest information on marine pollution preparedness and response.
The meeting also reviewed the work plan and budget for the 2018/2019 biennium and other future activities including Guidelines on the assessment of oil spill response capability for the NOWPAP region (proposed by China), the use of Unmanned Aircraft in Marine Pollution Response in the NOWPAP region (proposed by China), Minimum response requirements for oil and HNS spills, which may arise from the offshore units at the NOWPAP region (proposed by Russia). In the end of the meeting, IPIECA (the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues) introduced the Global Initiative for Southeast Asia (GISEA) and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Plan, and other activities that support the objectives of the Strategic Framework for 2015-2017; ITOPF (The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation) presented the recent trends in oil spill response and preparedness across the world. Participants committed to continuing strong partnerships and continuing focus of MERRAC activities of oil and NHS pollution preparedness and response.
