Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

Nicaragua has a draft national contingency plan and favours a shipowner-led response. The lead government agency for spill response is Dirección General de Transporte Acuatico Nacional (DGTA), which is assisted by a technical committee composed of members of different private and public bodies such as the oil industry, navy, the national port authority (Empresa Portuaria Nacional, EPN), National Department for Natural Disasters (SINAPRED) and other support organisations.

EPN signed a 10 year agreement with the Environmental Protection & Control Company SA (EPC) (http://epcnicaragua.net) in 2008 to provide equipment and personnel for response in the oil receiving ports of Sandino and Corinto.

Nicaragua anticipates having the capability to deal with a Tier 1 and 2 spill, but would require international support for a major incident (Information from RAC-REMPEITC 2015).

A mechanism is in place for the transboundary movement of equipment with neighbouring states through the Directorate General of Customs within SINAPRED.

Response Policy

Information from RAC-REMPEITC in 2010 states that Nicaragua has no defined policy on the use of dispersants and in-situ burning. The Ministry of Environment is working on developing a standard to regulate the use dispersants.

Equipment

Government

The government does not own much in the way of specialised resources, but has gained a certain level of expertise in responding to spills and in the use of equipment. It demands that harbour administrations and companies have a minimum level of equipment available.

Private

EPC has an operational response centre (CORP) in the Port of Corinto, with equipment including booms, skimmers and dispersants. Fees for EPC services are determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with international standards and in agreement with EPN and ultimately DGTA. EPC also provides spill response training services.

Puma Energy operates terminals, a refinery and storage facility in Nicaragua and would be expected to have a supply of clean-up equipment.

Previous Spill Experience

Nicaragua has not suffered any major tanker pollution incidents.  In 1999 a small spill of oily muds (30 gallons) in Corinto Harbour was cleared up by the spiller in collaboration with local companies who provided equipment.

Hazardous & Noxious Substances

Nicaragua is gearing towards preparations for HNS and ratifying the OPRC-HNS and HNS Conventions.  It intends to incorporate HNS arrangements into its current oil spill contingency plan.  They have a limited amount of equipment available, including PPE and respirators.

Compensation

* not yet in force

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

Cartagena Convention - the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (a comprehensive, umbrella agreement for the protection and development of the marine environment with states of the Wider Caribbean Region).

Date of issue: September 2015