Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

The competent body for maritime affairs in Guinea is the Direction Generale de la Marine Marchande (General Directorate of Merchant Marine). By a government decree in 1981, the Centre National de Protection du Milieu Marin - CNPMM (National Centre for the Protection of the Marine Environment), a body within this directorate, was created to deal specifically with marine pollution matters. The CNPMM has prepared an outline national oil spill contingency plan, but this is still at the draft stage.

In the event of a major spill the CNPMM would co-ordinate all clean-up activities.

Response Policy

The coastline of Guinea is largely dominated by low-lying swamps and mangroves, both difficult shoreline types on which to mount a clean-up operation. Manual clean-up may be undertaken on the limited areas of sandy beach.

Equipment

Government

Guinea has limited, basic resources available for dealing with oil spills. These include general port equipment, agricultural equipment, and a large labour force.

Private

There do not appear to be any private resources in Guinea.

Previous Spill Experience

There have been no serious spills in Greenland waters.

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Abidjan Convention (with states of the West and Central African Region).

Date of issue: November 2002