regional activity center/regional marine...

REGIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER/REGIONAL MARINE POLLUTION EMERGENCY, INFORMATION and TRAINING CENTER

(RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe)

Regional Activity Center / Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Center Wider Caribbean Region

Seru Mahuma z/n, Aviation and Meteorology Building, Curaçao Phone: 5999-868-4612 / 868-3409; Fax: 5999-868-4996; Email: [email protected]

November 22nd, 2012

Ref: Strategic Plan 12-13/ Programme No TC/1262 activity 7

National Workshop on Ratification, Implementation, and Enforcement of the MARPOL Convention,

Annexes I and V

Workshop Report

13-15 November 2012 Nassau, Bahamas

Summary: RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe provided oversight, instruction and management for the implementation and delivery of a workshop to provide information and facilitate the exchange of information between the participants on the legislative, administrative, and enforcement procedures regarding the MARPOL Convention, Annexes I and V. Special attention was also brought to the issue of port reception facilities in the Bahamas. This event was held at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Training Centre in Nassau, Bahamas, on November 13-15, 2012 and funded by the International Maritime Organisation.





Table of Contents

1. Background .................................................................................................................. 3 2. Workshop Objectives .................................................................................................. 4 3. Program ....................................................................................................................... 5 4. Logistics....................................................................................................................... 6 5. Support......................................................................................................................... 8 6. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................ 8 7. Annex 1 – Participants List ....................................................................................... 10 8. Annex 2 – Workshop Agenda ................................................................................... 12 9. Annex 3 – Workshop Evaluation Results .................................................................. 14





1. Background 1.1 For some time now, the Wider Caribbean States and Territories have expressed concern over the continuing degradation of the Marine Environment in the region and the need to reduce marine pollution and its negative impact. Of particular concern to Governments and civil society is the growing unsustainable use of coastal and oceanic marine resources, which, if not reversed, could undermine the very basis of social and economic development in these coastal states. 1.2 In the last 30 years, several initiatives were developed for the protection of the marine environment, including the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 or commonly referred to as the MARPOL 73/78. This Convention applies to ships and has six Annexes to minimize sources of pollution from vessels. 1.3 Although a majority of States and Territories are a party to MARPOL and have ratified or acceded to a number of Annexes (in particular Annex I, II, III and V), they are currently facing a certain number of impediments to fully implement and enforce the convention in the event of non-compliance. 1.4 In addition, taking into concern that the Wider Caribbean became a “Special Area” under MARPOL 73/78 Annex V (Garbage), States and Territories were encouraged to implement and enforce these regulations. Even though the Special Area provision for the Caribbean Sea as a no dumping area for garbage has entered into force since May 2011, States and Territories are facing difficulties to provide adequate port reception facilities. 1.5 In 2007 and 2008, RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe, together with IMO and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) through its Caribbean Environment Program (CEP) conducted an outreach program to facilitate the implementation of MARPOL Annex V. This effort was followed up by a series of seminars held in seven countries and hosted by the Land-based Sources of Pollution (LBS) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention, RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe, IMO, and UNEP’s Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit. The purpose of these seminars was to offer decision-making





authorities and other stakeholders information regarding the steps needed to implement the MARPOL Annex V Special Area designation for the Wider Caribbean Region, as well as to obtain the status of the various countries’ waste reception facilities. 1.6 In 2012, RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe conducted a Regional Workshop on the ratification, implementation, and enforcement of the MARPOL Convention with an emphasis on the issue of port reception facilities in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The purpose of this event was to provide information about MARPOL and its 6 annexes and to identify solutions to the impediments to the implementation and enforcement of the convention. 1.7 This national workshop was a follow up to the regional workshop conducted earlier in 2012 in Suriname and continued the progress of all these past seminars. It was conducted for environmental officials, maritime administrators and waste management authorities and relevant stakeholders. It focused on the ratification, implementation, and enforcement of the MARPOL Convention, Annexes I and V and emphasised on the issue of port reception facilities in the Bahamas.

2. Workshop Objectives 2.1 To offer stakeholders information regarding the background and contents of the MARPOL Convention and associated Annexes. 2.2 To get an overview of the waste management and port reception facilities in the Bahamas. 2.3 To educate and encourage the responsible parties to populate and maintain their data in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) Port Reception Facilities database. 2.4 To share ideas and concerns among the participants to aid them in moving forward on solutions. 2.5 To develop and to support agencies cooperation at the local level and to improve links between stakeholders, industry, NGOs and government.





3. Program 3.1 The workshop was organized and hosted by RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe under Activity 4.3.i.1 of the 2012-2013 Strategic Plan. Funding was provided by the IMO Programme Implementation Document TC/1262, Activity 7. 3.2 The Ministry of Transport and Aviation of the Bahamas agreed to host the workshop. The participants’ list is included as Annex 1. 3.3 The three-day workshop comprised a series of lectures, group discussions and a field trip to the waste treatment plant Waste Bahamas and the Port of Nassau. The staff of RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe provided the training course and facilitated the activities in conjunction with an international expert. For each group discussion, the participants were split into working groups, members of each working group were different for each discussions. Each group selected a group leader for each activity. The group leader was responsible for providing a briefing to all participants of the discussion outcomes at the conclusion of each activity. 3.4 The workshop started with a prayer, followed by opening remarks made by:

• Mr. Peter Deveaux Isaacs, under secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation

• Mr. Patrick McNeil, Port Controller, Nassau Port Authority • Mrs. Anne Réglain, IMO Consultant, RAC/REMPEITC Caribe

3.5 The first day was primarily used to disseminate information regarding background and contents of the MARPOL Convention and its Annexes, including the rights and obligations of contacting parties and the legal aspects of MARPOL implementation and enforcement. The last session of the afternoon was dedicated to a group discussion about the impediments to implement and enforce the convention. 3.6 The second day was used to disseminate in depth information about the implementation and enforcement of annexes I and V and to carry out discussions about the issues of port reception facilities. The following small scenarios were given to the participants to promote discussions:





• The sewage macerator of a cruise ship broke down and is now urging to the port

of Nassau to discharge its sewage. How do you manage and report this situation? • Given the initial investment costs for a waste management plant and its yearly

operation costs, what would be the fees for port reception facilities users? 3.7 The third day was dedicated to the visit of the waste treatment plant Waste Bahamas and the Port of Nassau. After, discussing the field trip, a list of next steps and recommendations were listed by the participants. 3.8 The training course outline is included in Annex 2. Initial a presentation of the status of MARPOL in the Bahamas from the government and a presentation of Waste Bahamas about waste treatment were scheduled but the presenters could not make it. 3.9 An evaluation form was distributed the last day. The result are summarized and attached in Annex 3. 3.10 Mr. Patrick McNeil made some closing remarks, thanking all participants for their active participation as well as the instructors, RAC/REMPEITC, IMO, Nassau Port Authority and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force staff for the help and support provided in implementing this activity. 3.11 RAC/REMPEITC thanked the instructor, the delegates and Nassau Port Authority and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for this fruitful and successful activity and encouraged the delegates to keep moving forward. 3.12 Each participant received a certificate and a USB stick with all the course materials.

4. Logistics 4.1 The course materials, distributed to all participants, consisted of:

a) Student Manual





b) Power Point Presentations c) Additional document about MARPOL

4.2 The workshop was held at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force:

Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base Phone: 001-242-362-3705 Fax: 001-242-362-2544

4.3 The instructors stayed at the hotel A Stone’s Throw Away:

A Stone’s Throw Away Tropical Gardens Road & Gambier Heights off West Bay Street Nassau, Bahamas Tel: 001-242-327-7030 Fax: 001-242-327-7040 Email: [email protected] Website: www.astonesthrowaway.com

4.4 Instructors/facilitators for the workshop included:

(1) Mr. Eric Dawicki President & CEO Dominica Maritime Registry Inc. 32 Washington Street Fairhaven, MA 02719 USA Phone: 001-508-992-7170 Fax: 001-508-992-7120 Email: [email protected]

(2) Ms. Anne Réglain IMO Consultant

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe





Seru Mahuma z/n, Aviation & Meteorology Building Curaçao Tel: 599-9-839-3719 Email: [email protected]

5. Support Nassau Port Authority and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force provided excellent support in preparation and throughout the workshop. Specifically, Mr. Patrick McNeil, Mr. Shannondor Evans and Mrs. Raquel Cheney’s assistance was highly appreciated and most helpful.

6. Conclusions and Recommendations 6.1 Participants gained a good understanding of the MARPOL Convention and had the opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas with the various stakeholders. It is important to carry on cooperation among all stakeholders and in the future, to invite representatives from the tourism industry and the cruise lines which were not present to this event. 6.2 Being conscious of the degradation of the water quality due to sewage discharge and the high density of maritime traffic, participants showed a strong will to have the government of the Bahamas ratify annex IV (sewage) of the MARPOL Convention. Participants also express their wish to see the Wider Caribbean Region designated as a special area under annex I. 6.3 Provide practical information about the implementation of MARPOL. Participants expressed their difficulty to follow up with the frequent amendments of the convention and pointed out the lack of practical and synthetic information emanating from the IMO. 6.4 Provide additional information about the practical implementation of port reception facilities (waste management options, costs etc.) and the environmental costs of illegal discharge in the marine environment. Modern waste management infrastructures will benefit the island itself and not only the maritime sector.





6.5 Identify the person in charge of updating information on GISIS and make sure he/she possesses the knowledge and login details to use GISIS. 6.6 Continue to follow-up with the Bahamas to track the progress of data input into the GISIS database and regarding the adequacy of their reception facilities. 6.7 Develop outreach to the Ministers and Permanent Secretaries of Transport and Environmental Ministries as to the responsibilities and actions that a government must take when it accedes to a treaty. It was heavily suggested that without a political will from the Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, implementation and enforcement were unlikely to be successful.

Annex 1 – Participants List Annex 2 – Workshop Agenda Annex 3 – Workshop Evaluation Results

7. Annex 1 – Participants List

Participants List Workshop on the Ratification, Implementation and Enforcement of MARPOL Convention, Annexes I and V

Nassau, Bahamas

November 13-15, 2012

Name Agency Contact # Email Address

1 Roberta Quant Bahamas Petroleum Company 362-5120 ext 4 / 357-

5713

[email protected]

2 Josette Demeritte Mailboat Company 557-4378 / 502-2636 [email protected] 3 Lana Roseboro Bahamas National GIS Centre 326-8536 [email protected] 4 Ryan Williamson Mailboat Company 544-5455 [email protected] 5 Huel R. Dames Rubis Bahamas Ltd. 424-7250 h.dames@rubis_caribbean.com 6 Dawn Charlow Rubis Bahamas Ltd. 376-3788 d.charlow@rubis_caribbean.com 7 Craig Curtis Port Department 393-1064 [email protected] 8 Makarios Rolle Statoil 557-6763 [email protected] 9 Wayne Francis Esso Bahamas Ltd. 376-2021 [email protected] 10 Kenneth Carey Bahamas Maritime Authority 424-1937 [email protected] 11 Cyril Roker Port Department 302-0228 [email protected] 12 Shannondor Evans Port Department, Freeport 727-6688 [email protected] 13 Hilda Luoga BEST Commission 397-5508 [email protected] 14 Dwight Allen Department of Environmental Health

Services

322-8037 [email protected]

15 Sherlin Brown BEST Commission 397 5508 [email protected]

[email protected] 16 Frederick Brown Royal Bahamas Defence Force 424-0718 [email protected] 17 Garnett G. Rolle Nassau Harbour Pilots 322-7982

18 Dominic Wright Nassau Harbour Pilots 326-8518 dominic_owright @yahoo.com 19 Frederick Gray Nassau Harbour Pilots 364-8385 [email protected] 20 Ruth Munnings Dept. of Environmental Health Services 322-2845 [email protected] 21 Carla Cargill Ministry of Transport & Aviation 397-5510 [email protected] 22 Deon Dames Royal Bahamas Defence Force 431-3635 [email protected] 23 Crispin Seymour Arawak Port Development 359-3510 [email protected] 24 Lindy C. Knowles Bahamas National Trust 393-1317 [email protected] 25 Garnett Rolle Jr. Nassau Harbour Pilots 4422-3003 [email protected] 26 Raquel Cheney Port Department 3020227 [email protected]

8. Annex 2 – Workshop Agenda

Day 1, Tuesday 13th November 2012 Lecturer/Facilitator

08 :30 – 09 :00 Registration of participants A. Reglain

Session 1 OPENING

09 :00 – 09 :15 Prayer & Welcome P. McNeil

09 :15 – 09 :30 Minister’s remarks P. Deveaux Isaacs, under

secretary in the Ministry of

Transport and Aviation

09 :30 – 10 :00 Introduction of the Workshop:

• Introduction of the Lecturers

• Purpose of the workshop and programme agenda

• Introduction of the participants and review of

expectations from the workshop

Group photo

Group

10:00 – 10:20 Tea/Coffee Break

Session 2 IMO IN GENERAL & INTRODUCTION TO MARPOL

10 :20 – 10:30 1.IMO

• What it is?

• What does it do?

A. Réglain

10:30 – 12:30 Introduction to MARPOL

2.Overview of the MARPOL Convention and its Annexes

3.Rights and obligations under MARPOL

4.Means of meeting obligations

E. Dawicki

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break

Session 3 MARPOL IN THE BAHAMAS

13:30 – 14:15 5.GEF-IWCAM wastewater management project in Exuma S. Brown

Session 4 IMPLEMENTATION OF MARPOL

14:15 – 15:00 6. Legal aspects of MARPOL Implementation E. Dawicki


15:20 – 16:30 7.Implementing Annexe I & V E. Dawicki

16:30 – 17:00 Wrapping up of the day A. Réglain

E. Dawicki

Day 2, Wednesday 14th November 2012 Lecturer/Facilitator

Session 5 Enforcement of MARPOL

09:00 – 10:00 8.Flag state implementation & port state control

(document of compliance)

E. Dawicki

10:00 – 10:45 9.Technical aspects of enforcement – pollution detection

and response

E. Dawicki


11:05 – 11:45 10. How to respond to non compliance E. Dawicki

11:45 – 12:30 Small group discussion Group


Session 6 PORT RECEPTION FACILITIES

13:30 – 14:15 11.Adequate reception facilities under MARPOL and the

information required by shipping

A. Reglain

14:15 – 15:00 Small group discussion on the current Status of the Port

Reception Facilities –current initiatives/needs

Group

15:00 – 15:40 12.Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) A. Réglain


16:15 - 16:45 13.REMPEITC A. Réglain

16:45 – 17:00 Information about the field trip A. Réglain

Day 3, Thursday 15th November 2012 (Prince George Wharf) Lecturer/Facilitator

Session 7 FIELD TRIP

09 :00 – 12 :30 Visit of the waste treatment plant

Visit of the Port of Nassau and its reception facilities


Session 8 GROUP DISCUSSION

13:30 – 15:25 Group discussion about the field trip Group


Session 9 WORKSHOP REVIEW & EVALUATION

16:00 – 16:30 Workshop evaluation

Discussion on whether expectations were achieved

Follow up actions

Group

Session 10 CLOTHING SESSION

16:30 – 17:00 Closing Remarks

Presentation of Certificates

A. Réglain

9. Annex 3 – Workshop Evaluation Results

A Arrangements prior to the activity Yes No

1 Was the invitation received in good time? 83 % 17 %

2 Did you receive information on the objective, scope and subject areas and programme of the activity before your participation? 46 % 54 %

3 Were the instructions for completing the nomination form and the profile required for the activity clear and easily understood? 88 % 12 %

4 Did you receive logistical information on venue, travel arrangements, DSA payments, accommodation? 70 % 30 %

5 Were you given any pre-event assignment? 8 % 92 %

6 If yes, was the pre-event assignment practical? 100 % 0 %

B During the activity Too long Just right to cover topics fully Too short

7 Was the event 0 % 83 % 17 %

8 How do you rate the event as regard to the following Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Venue 33 % 54 % 13 % 0 %

Facilities 37 % 42 % 21 % 0 %

Equipment 21 % 38 % 33 % 8 %

9 Quality of written documentation provided Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Clarity 50 % 35 % 15 % 0 %

Technical content 40 % 50 % 10 % 0 %

Relevance 50 % 40 % 10 % 0 %

Comprehensiveness 45 % 40 % 15 % 0 %

10 Quality of presentations Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Clarity 50 % 42 % 8 % 0 %

Technical content 42 % 46 % 12 % 0 %

Relevance 50 % 38 % 12 % 0 %

Comprehensiveness 46 % 42 % 12 % 0 %

11 Quality and use of: Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Course materials 35 % 30 % 22 % 13 %

IMO references materials 33 % 29 % 33 % 5 %

Other resource materials 24 % 38 % 33 % 5 %

Group or practical activities 50 % 36 % 14 % 0 %

Excursions 36 % 50 % 14 % 0 %

At the end of the activity Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

12 Please rate each individual lecturer in regard to the following

Anne Réglain

Content of the lecture 57 % 43 % 0 % 0 %

Presentation 52 % 44 % 4 % 0 %

Ability to transfer knowledge 52 % 44 % 4 % 0 %

Effectivness in answering questions and suggesting solutions to

problems

65 % 31 % 4 % 0 %

Eric Dawicki

Content of the lecture 70 % 30 % 0 % 0 %

Presentation 62 % 38 % 0 % 0 %

Ability to transfer knowledge 58 % 42 % 0 % 0 %

Effectivness in answering questions and suggesting solutions to

problems

58 % 38 % 4 % 0 %

At the end of the activity

13 What topics were of

Most interest to you 1. Obligations under MARPOL. 2. How IMO supports countries. 3. Food waste disposal from cruise vessels. 4. MARPOL

Annex I. 5. Great content. 6. Waste management, sewage, oil. 7. Environmental regulations related to oil spills. 8.

Annex I and II. 9. Learning about the areas we lacked in fulfilling MARPOL obligations. 10. The field trip and group

activities. 11. MARPOL in the Bahamas. 12. How conventions become national laws. 13. Annex I and VI. 14.

Implementation of MARPOL

Least interest to you 1. None. 2. What is IMO? 3. REMPEITC. 4. Annexes but only because I knew it already. 5. All was of interest

Yes No

14 Are there any topics which should be

added?

36 % 64 %

If yes, please list them 1. Environmental costs related to damages due to oil spill incidents from ships. 2. Oil response and sewage disposal. 3.

Government input on status for enforcement. 4. How the Bahamas has facilitated or attempted to facilitate annexes of

MARPOL. 5. More knowledge about annexes II, III and IV

Yes No

15 Do you consider that the objective of the

event was met?

100 % 80%

16 Comments 1. Enough information was not known by the presenters on the Bahamas. The group toured a private collector waste

facility and no consideration was given to the government landfill/facilities. A presentation was scheduled by a

private individual on waste management rather than the government. 2. Relevant agencies eg. tourism were not well

represented. Not aware of how the lessons/recommendations will be activated by the government. 3. The course

heightened my awareness. Good job. 4. The workshop did a good job in letting persons from different organisations

together to network and share ideas on the subject. 5. The course was very informative and educational. As a member

of the Royal Bahamas Defence force I would like to see our training department implementing all of the material

presented on this course. 6. The workshop was interesting and informative as it well articulated the MARPOL

convention obligations, to ensure safety and health of the environment and human. There should be mechanism to

enforce implementation of MARPOL. 7. Presenters made efforts to keep the workshop interesting and informative. 8.

Presentation was very rewarding as it increased substantially my awareness of MARPOL and the extent to which the

Bahamas adheres to the different annexes. Improvements that the Bahamas can make or initiate. 9. The king of

awareness necessary to fill the safety (MARPOL) gaps in our systems

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