Vanuatu

Spill Notification Point

Ports and Marine Department
Private Mail Bag 046, Port Vila Efate Island

Tel: +678 22339

Fax: +678 22475

Competent National Authority

Contact details are as for the Spill Notification Point.

Response Arrangements

Operational responsibility during an oil spill incident lies with the Ports and Marine Department of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Public Works.  The Ports and Marine Department has jurisdiction over the two commercial harbours in Vanuatu: Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo.

The Vanuatu government has made provision for the creation of an Environmental Protection, Conservation and Pollution Unit within the Ministry of Lands, Energy and Rural Water Supply.  The intention is for this Unit to assume responsibilities both for prevention and control of oil spills.

Vanuatu is 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 in the region.  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 Vanuatu with assistance in formulating its national plan, consistent with PACPLAN and international best practice.

Response Policy

Not known.

Equipment

Government

The Ports and Marine Department has 2 dispersant spray arms but no other resources for dealing with spills. The para-military Mobile Force could supply transport, patrol craft and up to 300 men for any shoreline cleanup.

In order to assist each Pacific Island country and territory to establish the optimum equipment inventory for its situation, PACPOL is carrying out a review of marine spill combat needs in 2003 with funding from the International Maritime Organization and Canada.  Once the review is completed, the project will seek to secure sources of support to procure the necessary equipment, plus provide training in its use and long-term maintenance.

The most significant stockpiles of marine spill response equipment held within the region are: American Samoa (US Coast Guard and oil industry/contractor); Guam (USCG and oil industry/contractor) and New Caledonia (French Navy).  Access to this equipment is available via the Request for Assistance procedures under PACPOL.

Private

There are two trailers, jointly owned by local oil companies, containing basic oil spill control equipment.

Previous Spill Experience

There have been no major spills in Vanuatu waters

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

  • Vanuatu is not a party to any agreements.

Date of issue: October 2008

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.