Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

At present, the Sudan has no capacity to respond to oil pollution in its territorial waters which could threaten its coastline and related interests.  As a first step towards establishing a national system for responding to oil spills, the government approved a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) in April 2004.  The Plan was prepared by external consultants in 1998 under contract to PERSGA (The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) in cooperation with the Sudanese government authorities. 

Under the Plan, the Sudanese Maritime Administration Corporation (SMAC) is the national authority responsible for oil pollution, preparedness and response and entitled to act on behalf of the State to request international assistance and to decide whether to render assistance to another State when required. The new coastal Earth Station of the Sea Ports Corporation (SPC) is the national contact point responsible for the receipt and transmission of oil pollution reports.  The intention is to establish a “Pollution Fund” for the purchase of equipment and to implement the necessary training programmes and other requirements of the Plan.  The Federal and State Ministries of Finance will contribute to the “Pollution Fund” together with all other agencies participating in the implementation of the Plan.

The national response strategy for the Sudan is based on the “tiered concept” with each oil handling facility being responsible for developing its own local “oil pollution emergency plan”. 

It is not known what level of environmental expertise exists within the country. It seems likely that in the event of a major spill assistance would be sought from international organisations located outside the country. 

Response Policy

Under the Plan, the national combat strategy is based on the following principles: - terminate or reduce the outflow of oil from the source, where marine or coastal resources are not threatened, monitor the slick, attempt control and recovery of the oil at sea by use of mechanical means, apply dispersants in accordance with guidelines laid down by SPC, protect sensitive areas and shoreline clean-up.   Dispersant spraying will not be allowed in shallow water over and near coral reefs or in shallow-water spawning and nursery areas.

Sensitivity mapping is being carried out to a limited extent by PERSGA (the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden)

Sudan possesses no known facilities for the disposal of oily waste.le spills from their offshore SBM off Colombo

Equipment

Government & Private

Bashain Terminal near Port Sudan has 500m of boom, one skimmer and 2 tugs with holding tanks for recovered oil. 

Previous Spill Experience

There have been no major oil pollution incidents in Sudanese waters.il impacted the coastline.

Compensation

* not yet in force  Sudan is not a party to any of the above conventions.

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Jeddah Convention (with states bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden).

Date of issue: January 2005