ASEAN-OSPAR PROJECT

The ASEAN-OSPAR Project stands for “Project on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in the ASEAN Seas Area”. Formerly known as OSPAR Project, it was initiated in 1993 by the Ministry of Transport of Japan (currently the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan) and financially assisted mainly by The Nippon Foundation. Its main objective is to improve the capability of ASEAN countries to deal with large-scale oil and Hazardous & Noxious Substance (HNS) spill incidents in the ASEAN region, based on the ASEAN Oil Spill Response Action Plan (OSRAP).

Background

In March 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez caused a major oil spill incident off Alaska coast of the United States. This incident triggered the necessity for an international system of cooperation for combating major oil spill incidents. IMO proceeded to prepare a draft convention that stipulated a comprehensive framework for international cooperation in the event of major oil spill incidents. The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990 (OPRC Convention) was adopted at the IMO diplomatic conference in November 1990, in London, UK. At the same time, IMO urged each member state to set up a regional alert system to facilitate cooperative activities.

The OSPAR Project started in 1993, aimed at improving the marine oil spill combating capability of then ASEAN countries, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The project provided oil spill combating equipment and materials in the ASEAN region, for example, oil booms, oil skimmers, oil dispersant, oil storage tanks etc., together with an information network system.

The Project entered a new stage in May 2002. The name of the project was changed to ASEAN-OSPAR Project. The scope of the activities were expanded, dealing with not only oil spill incident but also HNS spill incidents. Invitation has also been extended to cover the newer ASEAN member countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. 

Objective

The objective of the OSPAR Project is to improve the capability of the ASEAN countries to deal with oil spill incidents based on the ASEAN Oil Spill Response Action Plan (OSRAP). OSRAP provides the tool for coping with major oil spill incidents that are beyond the capability of a single country. As the ASEAN seas experiences heavy shipping traffic including large tankers, there is a potentially high risk of a major oil spill incident.

Member countries

The Focal point for the project is located at the Environment Impact Management Agency, Indonesia.

Note: Observers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam attended the preparatory meeting in Singapore in February 2003. These countries are expected to join the project in the near future.

Contents of OSPAR Project

In order to improve the capability of the ASEAN countries to deal with oil spill incidents, equipments and materials for oil spill combating, and specially designed information network system were provided by Japan under the OSPAR project. The total project outlay amounted to JY 1 billion (US$ 8.6 million). 

Note: Total Budget was converted from JY to US$ at the exchange rate of US$1 =JY 115

Milestones

OSPAR Forum 91

In January 1991, two months after the OPRC Convention was adopted, the "OSPAR Forum 91" was held in Yokohama, with invitation to officials from then six ASEAN countries and IMO. At the forum, Japan proposed the promotion of the OSPAR Project, and the delegates agreed to the “Yokohama Declaration”.

OSPAR Cooperation Conference

The 1st OSPAR Cooperative Conference was held in Manila, Philippines, in January 1992 in accordance with the Yokohama Declaration in order to exchange views and opinions with respect to the concerted approach and action towards the establishment of a viable oil spill combating system through regional cooperation. At the conference, Japan submitted a basic proposal for the OSPAR Project and opinions concerning the contents of the proposal were exchanged. Following the 1st Conference and the 2nd Conference held in Jakarta, Indonesia, final agreement on the project was reached at the 3rd Conference held in Tokyo, Japan in May 1993.

OSPAR Management Meeting

The OSPAR Management meeting consisting of ASEAN member countries and Japan was held yearly to discuss the effective management and operation for oil combating equipments and materials as well as information network system provided from Japan under the OSPAR cooperation scheme.

ASEAN-OSPAR Management Meeting

The 1st ASEAN-OSPAR Management Meeting was held in Bangkok on 14-15 May 2002. The meeting acknowledged the completion of OSPAR Project with support of Japan under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on OSRAP which were signed by 6 ASEAN member countries in 1993. The meeting also agreed to a draft Terms of Reference of ASEAN OSPAR Management Meeting.

ASEAN-OSPAR NEW PROJECT Preparatory Meeting

The ASEAN-OSPAR NEW PROJECT Preparatory Meeting was held in Singapore on 6-7 February 2003. The meeting discussed the proposal submitted by Japan on the new information network and agreed a final draft proposal which will be submitted for approval to the 2nd ASEAN-OSPAR Management Meeting to be held in Singapore this autumn.

The meeting agreed to conduct an overall trial of the ASEAN-OSPAR Homepage linkages and human network through e-mail exchange to evaluate the functions, usefulness and problems before the next Management meeting in Singapore.

Each member country is requested to insert ASEAN-OSPAR section into its own existing homepage and arrange the designated information using a common page format.

Statistics on oil spill incidents

The summary of statistics on oil spills to which the member country responded will be available shortly.

Newsletters

A newsletter is issued on a quarterly basis to facilitate the activities of this project.

Link to member country website, "ASEAN-OSPAR section"

Brunei
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

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