from 02-04 December, 2019
PAKISTAN NAVY and PAKISTAN Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) are conducting a Multinational Annual Oil Spill Response BARRACUDA – X Exercise from 02-04 December, 2019.
The Multinational Annual Oil Spill Response Exercise BARRACUDA – X Exercise is basically an initiative and effort of PAKISTAN NAVY to rehearse the control of possible oil spillage at sea due to different reasons.
Interview of
DG PMSA,
Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman HI(M)
QUESTION / ANSWERS FOR DG INTERVIEW
Q.1. How the concept of Exercise Barracuda emerged?
Ans: After the catastrophic incident of massive spillage of oil off Karachi by MV Tasman Spirit in 2003, a need was felt for formulation of a comprehensive Anti Pollution Plan. PMSA proposed National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to cater all marine disasters including Oil spill, Search & Rescue and Salvage Operation at Sea. The Government in the year 2007 approved a National Maritime Disaster Contingency Plan (NMDCP). The same has been revised in the year 2019.
In NMDCP certain actions to be undertaken by different stakeholders have been elaborated. Therefore, in order to enhance the capacity of the stakeholders, an exercise with the name of BARRACUDA was introduced.
Q.2. Since when this exercise is being conducted?
Ans: The exercise is being conducted annually since 2009.
Q.3. Who are all the major stakeholders in case of any oil spill disaster at sea?
Ans: Ministries of Climate Change, Petroleum & Natural Resources and Interior, Pakistan Navy, PMSA, NHQ, SUPARCO, KPT, PQA, KPT,GDA, NIO, SEPA, BEPA, PDMA (Sindh & Baluchistan), KANUPP and major oil companies of Pakistan are the stakeholders.
Q.4. What role has been assigned to PMSA in NMDCP?
Ans: Before I appraise you on the role of PMSA, I would like to inform you that NMDCP is a very comprehensive document in which every stakeholder has been given a specific task. Most important of all is that all the stakeholders take their actions under the supervision and guidance of Pakistan Maritime Disaster Management Board (PMDMB). Chief of the Naval Staff being advisor to the government on Maritime Affairs has been nominated as Chairman of the Board with Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) as its Secretary.
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency being the only Maritime law enforcement agency in the country has been given the lead role in case of any disaster at sea. PMSA is the coordinator in Maritime Disaster Response Committee (MDRC) with Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) as its Chairman.
Responsibility of MDRC is the execution of National Maritime Contingency Plan when ordered by Pakistan Maritime Disaster Management Board (PMDMB). MDRC response committee coordinates with Disaster Response Centre (DRC) established at HQs PMSA which is manned round the clock.
Q.5. Who else are the members of PMDMB?
Ans: Other members of the Board are Additional Secretaries Ministries of Defence, Maritime Affairs, Climate Change, Energy, Petroleum Division, Interior, Food, Agriculture & Livestock, National Food Security & Resources and Chairman NDMA.
Q.6. How many exercises of the series have been conducted up till now?
Ans: 09 exercises have been conducted up till now and this year it will 10th of the series this year.
However, I would like to mention here that PMSA being the main stakeholder as per the mandate given in NMDCP, took the initiative and invited foreign observers in exercise Barracuda IX last year. The attendance of the foreign observers was quite healthy and total of 23 foreigner observers attended the exercise. This year also we have invited foreigner observers and till to date 27 foreigner observers have confirmed their availability.
Q.7. What improvements you could see in the working of national stakeholders especially with the addition of foreign observers?
Ans: I would like to mention here that Pakistan for the time being is far behind from other countries in the world with regards to marine pollution due lack of awareness and very weak legislation of the subject. Inviting the foreigners in the exercise was with the aim to get handful of knowledge and capacity building of the national stakeholders.
Here I would like to give a very latest example of an oil spill incident at Mubarik Village. PMSA as per their mandate within few hours of incident coordinated with all stakeholders and contained the oil spill within next few hours. Even the beaches were cleaned within a week’s time which is a great success.
I would also like to highlight that all the stakeholders were very forthcoming and utilized their assets with full vigour. This in my view is the outcome of the practices being undertaken during the exercises to execute the plans for any kind of disaster at sea.
Q.8. Have you ever come across any resistance from any stakeholder with regards to equipment, capacity, human resource etc?
Ans: No, we have never come across with any such kind of resistance. Rather all the stakeholders are so forthcoming that they without our intervention make good the shortcomings of their equipment on voluntary basis. Rather BYCO has recently bought latest equipment which will be demonstrated for the first time in Pakistan in the forthcoming exercise.
Q.9. What support do you get from PN and PAF in case of any disaster at sea?
Ans: PN and PAF have both always been forthcoming and have always upheld PMSA request for any kind of support whether it is in shape of HR or air or sea assets or any other requirement. They are met even at a very short notice.