The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) has taken a significant step in the detection and monitoring of oil spills. Thanks to advanced training provided by the Satellite Analysis Branch (NAB), in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, the IMA has enhanced its capabilities. Since the implementation of a comprehensive program in July 2021, the IMA has strengthened its almost real-time monitoring capacity, bolstering efforts to combat environmental hazards.
20 Febrero 2024
The strategic collaboration between the IMA and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has borne fruit. Both institutions share monitoring responsibilities on a weekly rotation. This partnership has not only strengthened response mechanisms but also laid the groundwork for a proactive approach to preventing potential oil spills.
Since its inception, the IMA has played a crucial role in various investigations. It provides satellite monitoring for minor oil spill reports and actively participates in significant incidents. One such case was the Guaracara spill in August 2021. Additionally, the IMA provided crucial support during the incident with the tanker CETUS MV, which sank in June 2022. These actions demonstrate the institution's commitment to environmental conservation.
Amidst these efforts, a recent event highlights the importance of these initiatives. The report from February 12, 2024, originating from Trinidad and Tobago, reveals a critical situation in Tobago, where an overturned vessel in Canoe Bay triggered a concerning leakage of a substance similar to oil. The substance affected sensitive areas, including mangroves, turtle nesting beaches, and coral reefs.
Credits: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2024), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (Phys.org, 2024)
The IMA continues to evolve its capabilities through international collaboration, emerging as a beacon of environmental conservation and collaborative efforts, setting new standards in the field of oil spill detection and response.
Dr. Inniss, Regional Coordinator of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), expressed gratitude to the United States Government for its willingness to collaborate in providing this essential training. IOCARIBE serves as a facilitator for such training, bringing together relevant organizations for the benefit of the peoples of the Extended Caribbean Region. Dr. Inniss highlighted that IOCARIBE-UNESCO will continue to seek strong and relevant partnerships to advance priority elements of ocean sciences and services, as well as the development of robust early warning systems for multiple hazards.
By: Alex E. Palomino Cadena
CURRENT NEWS ITEMS
14 Septiembre 2023
‘Britain’s Ocean City’ welcomes the committee – whose members span the breadth of ocean science – to champion the UN Ocean Decade within the UK’s...
1 Agosto 2023
11 years after Hurricane Sandy hit the Caribbean islands and the East Coast of the United States in 2012, its destructive power is...
1 Mayo 2023
-
Drought, floods and heatwaves affect large parts of the world and the costs are rising
-
Global mean...
15 Abril 2023
We have been busy over the past 16 months as we completed Phase 1 of the platform, which focused on growth, strategy, and development...
5 Abril 2023
Map of the CARIBE WAVE 23 scenarios. The black rectangle indicated the map view of the ruptured fault segments for the Gulf of Honduras scenario and the black outlines...
3 Abril 2023