Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

Oil spill response arrangements in Mozambique are very much in their infancy. The designated national agency charged with responding to oil pollution at sea within the country’s 12 nm territorial limit is the Maritime Administration and Safety Authority (SAFMAR), part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. A draft National Contingency Plan has been prepared and a working group established, which involves relevant public institutions, NGOs and the oil industry. Whilst overall charge of any marine spill response mounted rests with SAFMAR, responsibility for shoreline clean-up falls to the local city councils. The relevant port authorities are charged with responding to those spills occurring within the country’s ports and responsibility for responding to land based spills rest with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) as SAFMAR’s mandate only allows jurisdiction 100 metres inshore of the high water mark. These responsibilities are primarily governed by two pieces of national legislation; the Maritime Law (1996) and the Environmental Law (1997). 

Response Policy

The clean-up policy is not known. However, the lack of resources would likely restrict response measures to the protection of key sites and manual shoreline clean-up.

The lack of easily available dispersant stocks in Mozambique further ensures that dispersant application has so far not been significantly employed as a primary response strategy. While formal dispersant application guidelines have not yet been developed, the presence of significant areas of mangroves, coral reefs and shallow waters such as those located in Maputo Bay, may restrict the practicality its application in the event of a spill.

Access to certain areas of the country may become difficult in the rainy season as not all roads are tarred. In addition, the shallow nature of Maputo Bay has in past incidents prevented an effective nearshore response as anti-pollution vessels have been denied access to certain remote sections due to draft restrictions.

Equipment

Government & Private

Stocks of specialised response equipment are extremely limited and reliance would be placed international sources in the event of a serious incident.  At present SAFMAR are able to provide a functioning communications network in the event of a spill and are capable of mobilising small amounts of fishing and coastal vessels. However, the lack of available specialised equipment reduces any worthwhile role these vessels can play in mounting an ‘at sea response’. The Ministry of Environment along with the Hydrographic office is capable of providing environmental and oceanographic data.

Previous Spill Experience

The KATINA P (1992) spilt approximately 500 tonnes of HFO in Maputo Bay following hull failure. Although equipment was flown in from abroad, the majority of clean-up work was undertaken using local manpower on the shorelines. The ship eventually broke up and sank in the Mozambique Channel loosing the remainder of its cargo. 

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Nairobi Convention (with states of the East African Region).

Date of issue: February 2006