Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

The National Marine Pollution Contingency Plan for Antigua & Barbuda is in the final stages of being revised. This sets out the strategy and organisation for spill response, and integrates with the wider Caribbean Islands OPRC Plan.

The competent national authority for oil spill response is the Antigua Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard. Other government departments with an interest or operational role in spills are the Ministry of Labour Co-operatives and Public Safety, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, Antigua and Barbuda Police Force,  Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Public Works. The local oil industry would also be involved.

The OSC is designated from the Antigua Coast Guard (normally the Operations Officer) with an alternate from the Port Authority. A Marine Pollution Sub-Committee (MPS) consisting of representatives from all involved parties has been established. The MPS has a dual role of pre-planning for spills and an advisory role to the OSC during response. The response team would be based in the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), established in the National Office of Disaster Services, part of the Ministry of Labour Co-operatives and Public Safety.

Response Policy

Antigua favours the combined approach of containment & recovery, chemical dispersion and manual/mechanical shoreline cleanup. The prevalence of sensitive resources (corals, mangroves, fisheries and tourism) necessitates consultation with MPS before the use of chemicals would be approved.

Small volumes of oily beach material could be landfilled in the public refuse tip, with government approval. Small volumes of liquid oil could be handled by the local oil industry. Larger volumes of waste would probably have to be exported.

Antigua and Barbuda has a mechanism in place to expedite the clearance of equipment through Customs.

Equipment

Government

The Port Authority can provide tugs fitted with dispersant spray gear and storage tanks. Equipment and manpower necessary for shore cleanup can be provided by the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Labour Co-operatives and Public Safety.

Small vessels and tugs are available locally and would be accessed through the Port Authority for at sea response. Fixed wing charter aircraft and helicopters for air surveillance are available.

Private

The local oil companies hold some resources for dealing with incidents at their own facilities including dispersant and application equipment. This also provides the first tier of response to spills from other sources for the government. Three tankers on long term charter to Shell Antilles and Guianas Ltd carry on board oil pollution response equipment for use by shoreside personnel. No specialist oil spill cleanup contractors are locally available. 

As reported in June 2005, the following equipment is available in Antigua and Barbuda from both government and private sources: - 2 x 600m boom, 12 x 55 USG dispersant, 2 workboats and oil dispersant distribution equipment.

Previous Spill Experience

Minor spills have occurred from small boat traffic. Two larger spills of Bunker C (supplied to the power generating station) resulted in manual beach cleaning and limited dispersant spraying. Recovered wastes were disposed of to local landfill.

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Cartagena Convention (with states of the Wider Caribbean Region).

Date of issue: January 2009