Advancing preparedness for transboundary oil spills in South-East Asia

Government representatives from South-East Asia* joined industry stakeholders, oil spill response organizations (OSROs) and international experts to discuss the risks of transboundary oil spills in the region.

The workshop focused on the actions required at operator and government levels, emphasizing the use of existing agreements, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regional cooperation frameworks.

Government participants shared national systems and capabilities, including contingency planning arrangements and mechanisms for cross-border response. The workshop also examined the role of oil spill response organizations in supporting transboundary incidents, alongside liability, claims and compensation considerations, and regional cooperation frameworks such as the ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding and the Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (ROSCP).

The workshop concluded with a guided tabletop exercise, allowing participants to work through a realistic cross-border spill scenario and identify key coordination and response challenges.

Supported by IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and organized by the Government of Malaysia in cooperation with the Global Initiative for South-East Asia (GI SEA) and Malaysia's national stakeholders, the event underscored the importance of sustained collaboration.

Strengthening bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation remains essential in line with the OPRC Convention, as South-East Asia continues to enhance its readiness to respond effectively to transboundary oil spill risks.

* Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam took part in the workshop.