SPANISH GOVERNMENT CONTRACT IS A FIRST OR OIL SPILL RESPONSE

Added: (Tue Oct 23 2001)

Pressbox (Press Release) - A groundbreaking agreement between the Spanish Government and UK-based Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) marks a new era of co-operation between government and industry on oil spill preparedness.

OSRL, the world's largest oil spill response organisation, will provide resources and expertise to complement Spain's own response capability for oil spills occurring in Spanish waters.

It is the first time the Southampton-based company has contracted directly with a government agency, and it lays the groundwork for other similar government-level agreements in the future.

OSRL is currently in discussions with Ireland and a number of other European countries on providing similar support.

Archie Smith, Director & Chief Executive of OSRL, says the agreement is an indication of the importance European countries like Spain are placing on oil pollution preparedness.

"Spain has a good structure in place for combating oil spills, which is important in a country with so many popular coastlines close to major Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping routes."

OSRL's contract is with the Spanish Maritime Rescue & Safety State Agency (SASEMAR), which manages the Spanish Search & Rescue services, including combating marine pollution by co-ordinating air-sea resources.

SASEMAR is an affiliate of the civil maritime authority, the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy (DGMM), which has responsibility for oil spill response within Spain's territorial waters and EEZ and for implementing the National Plan for Salvage & Pollution Control.

DGMM Director General Seņor Jose Luis Lopez-Sors signed the agreement on behalf of Spain at a recent government seminar on maritime safety at La Coruņa in North West Spain, itself the site of an incident in 1992 when a vessel ran aground and caught fire.

"We look forward to working with the Spanish authorities and bringing industry and government resources closer together," says Archie Smith.

Ends

For more information:
Archie Smith
Director & Chief Executive
Oil Spill Response Limited
Tel: 020 7724 0102

Todd Somerville
Account Director
Prowse & Co
Tel: 01372 363 386

Notes for Editors:

Oil Spill Response Limited
Established in 1985 and based in Southampton, UK, OSRL is a non-profit making company owned by more than twenty-five international oil companies
The OSRL team is on 24-hour standby, 365 days a year
OSRL’s comprehensive services draw on the experience and expertise gained from attending serious oil spill incidents around the world. In 1999, the company launched its UK Response service for ports and harbours around the UK
OSRL’s services also include the development of contingency plans, oil spill modelling, audits and exercises. Over 3,500 delegates from around the world have benefited from OSRL’s specialist training courses
OSRL's alliance partner, East Asia Response Limited (EARL), is a Singapore-based international Tier 3 oil spill response centre established in 1993 to provide rapid and efficient response to oil spill incidents in the Asia-Pacific region
It is a non-profit organisation with shareholders among the major oil companies operating in the region
Membership in EARL is offered to any company with interests in exploration and production, transportation and terminalling, refining, distribution and other oil related activities


SASEMAR
Spain's Maritime Rescue & Safety State Agency (SASEMAR) is an affiliate of the civil maritime authority, the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy (DGMM), itself part of the Ministry of Development, which includes Public Works and Transport
DGMM has responsibility for oil spill response within Spain's territorial waters and EEZ and for implementation of the National Plan for Salvage & Pollution Control
SASEMAR is mandated with the management of the Spanish Search & Rescue services and for combating marine pollution by co-ordination of air-sea resources


23 October 2001

News release and photo are available online at