Port Blair, Nov 14: The Coast Guard component of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), conducted an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Level-I course for the various stake holders, responsible for Pollution Response Operations, at theAndaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). The course was conducted by Coast Guard Pollution Response Team from 08 Nov to 12 Nov 2021, at Port Blair. The Coast Guard (CG) as a Central Coordinating Agency for combating oil pollution in the Maritime Zones of India conducts the course in line with the guidelines of International Convention on Oil Pollution PreparednessResponse and Co-operation (OPRC) Convention 1990, to which India is a signatory. Any oil spill in the seas around the ANI will have severe environmental impact on the marine ecosystem and adversely affect dependent economic / tourism activities. Accordingly, IMO level-I courses are structured and conducted by the Coast Guard, to provide effective training to all stakeholders for coordinated response operations against any marine oil spills at sea.
The training course was attended by 25 participants, including officials from the Department of Environment & Forests, Port Management Board (PMB), Andaman and Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (PCC), Marine Police Force (PMF) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) apart from personnel of CG. The course curriculum provided the participants an insight into the various facets of pollution response in terms of awareness, preparedness, response, legal regulations and practical exposure on handling of pollution response equipment. Certificates were presented on successful completion of IMO Level-I training to all the participants.
