Cook Islands

Spill Notification Point

Ministry of Transport
PO Box 61, Rarotonga

Tel: +682-28810

Fax: +682-28816

Competent National Authority

Police Department
Rarotonga

Tel: +682-22 499

Fax: +682-21 499

Response Arrangements

The Ministry of Transport is the central notification point for pollution incidents. The Cook Islands are included within the boundaries of New Zealand but enjoy internal self-government. However, any major incident would most likely be notified to the New Zealand authorities.

The Cook Islands are a member of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and party to the SPREP Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific, which provides the legal framework through which marine spill contingency planning is addressed. SPREP has prepared PACPOL, the Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Programme, which has drafted the Pacific Islands Regional Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN). This was endorsed by Members in September 2000 as the regional framework through which the SPREP Pollution Emergencies Protocol would be operationalised. PACPLAN only applies to spills where regional cooperation and/or supraregional assistance are required. It does not cover Tier One and Tier Two spills. At the national level, PACPOL has provided the Cook Islands with assistance in formulating its national plan, consistent with PACPLAN and international best practice.

Response Policy

Not known.

Equipment

Government & Private

In the event of a significant oil spill in Rarotonga, the resources of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning would be utilised. These include vehicles, machinery and work gangs. Other government departments also have some vehicles available.

According to a news report received in 2010, SPREP has procured oil spill equipment for the Cook Islands. Further details are not known.

According to a news report received in 2014, the Ports Authority has some capacity to deal with oil spills. Some of the fuel supply companies also have oil spill response equipment. 

Aerial reconnaissance flights could be arranged through Air Rarotonga.

Previous Spill Experience

The last significant oil pollution incident in Rarotonga involved a land pipeline rupture in 1987, releasing diesel fuel into Avatiu Harbour.

Conventions

Prevention & Safety

MARPOL Annexes
73/78IIIIV V VI

Spill Response

OPRC '90 OPRC HNS

Compensation

CLCFundSuppHNS*Bunker
'69 '76 '92 '92Fund

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

  • Noumea Convention (with states of the South Pacific Region).

Date of issue: June 2017

Terms & Conditions

These Country & Territory Profiles are provided in good faith as a guide only and are based on information obtained from a variety of sources over a period of time.  This information is subject to change and should, in each case, be independently verified before reliance is placed on it. Country & Territory Profiles may have been re-issued solely to incorporate additional or revised information under one heading only.  Each Profile has therefore not necessarily been completely verified or updated as at the stated Date of Issue.

ITOPF Limited (“ITOPF”) hereby excludes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all liability to any person, corporation or other entity for any loss, damage or expense resulting from reliance on or use of these Country & Territory Profiles.

©ITOPF Limited 2018.

These Country & Territory Profiles may be reproduced by any means for non-commercial distribution without addition, deletion or amendment, provided an acknowledgement of the source is given and these Terms & Conditions are reproduced in full. 

These Country & Territory Profiles may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of ITOPF either for commercial distribution or with addition, deletion or amendment.