Page 22 - 44 SAYURUSARA
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20 Sayurusara 2021 December
international instruments dealing with marine b. Establish unified command under ICS
environmental monitoring ratified by Sri Lanka. to respond to similar situations including
As far as the overall assessment of the maritime representatives from SLCG as lead agency and
disaster response in this incident is concerned, others from SLN, MEPA, Ship operator and
following conclusions be made; DMC.
a. Overall threat assessment was inappropriate c. Empower SLCG with necessary legal
and inadequate at the Incident Command Level regime to be the lead agency in maritime disaster
of the MV X Press Pearl. response.
b. Overall decision making was poor and not d. Augment SLCG offshore oil spill
timely at the Incident Command Level. response capabilities further with Pollution
Control Vessel, oil spill equipment etc.
c. Informed decision making such as
consideration of weather forecasts and sea e. Nominate Public Information Officer
conditions was lacking at the Incident Command (PIO) for SLCG to coordinate media relations
Level. under ICS in similar situations.
d. MEPA being the lead agency failed to f. Rehearse National Maritime Disaster
coordinate and control the situation, as MEPA Response plans/exercises coordinating with
was more theory based agency than a practical relevant agencies/ stakeholders regularly.
entity which warrants responding swiftly in this
type of a critical maritime disaster. g. Study models like United Sates Coast
Guard ICS to improve national and SLCG
e. Sri Lanka needs to revisit domestic and maritime disaster response activities.
international legal regime on application in
similar situations in order to claim/compensate References:
for the damages for the marine environment due
pollution caused by maritime accidents and other Department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Act No. 49 of 2009
operational activities. https://gcaptain.com/
https://www.fema.gov/
f. SLCG being the maritime law enforcement
agency equipped with necessary infrastructure Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 35 of 2008
and skilled manpower and expertise training
was not given the due recognition and missed MARPOL 73/78
opportunity to act as the lead agency in the
Incident Command Level. Maritime Zones Act No. 22 of 1976
Recommendations Captain (ASW) JPKP Kumara, RSP **, psn
NRX 1360
In keeping with the issues highlighted in
above conclusions and avert such occurrences SLCG Rohana
in future following remedial actions are proposed
for consideration in national and organizational
level;
a. Establish National Incident Management
System (NIMS) to handle such incidents/ disasters
effectively under MOD. Incident Command
System (ICS) to be a component of NIMS. Same
model would be drawn from FEMA in USA.
international instruments dealing with marine b. Establish unified command under ICS
environmental monitoring ratified by Sri Lanka. to respond to similar situations including
As far as the overall assessment of the maritime representatives from SLCG as lead agency and
disaster response in this incident is concerned, others from SLN, MEPA, Ship operator and
following conclusions be made; DMC.
a. Overall threat assessment was inappropriate c. Empower SLCG with necessary legal
and inadequate at the Incident Command Level regime to be the lead agency in maritime disaster
of the MV X Press Pearl. response.
b. Overall decision making was poor and not d. Augment SLCG offshore oil spill
timely at the Incident Command Level. response capabilities further with Pollution
Control Vessel, oil spill equipment etc.
c. Informed decision making such as
consideration of weather forecasts and sea e. Nominate Public Information Officer
conditions was lacking at the Incident Command (PIO) for SLCG to coordinate media relations
Level. under ICS in similar situations.
d. MEPA being the lead agency failed to f. Rehearse National Maritime Disaster
coordinate and control the situation, as MEPA Response plans/exercises coordinating with
was more theory based agency than a practical relevant agencies/ stakeholders regularly.
entity which warrants responding swiftly in this
type of a critical maritime disaster. g. Study models like United Sates Coast
Guard ICS to improve national and SLCG
e. Sri Lanka needs to revisit domestic and maritime disaster response activities.
international legal regime on application in
similar situations in order to claim/compensate References:
for the damages for the marine environment due
pollution caused by maritime accidents and other Department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Act No. 49 of 2009
operational activities. https://gcaptain.com/
https://www.fema.gov/
f. SLCG being the maritime law enforcement
agency equipped with necessary infrastructure Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 35 of 2008
and skilled manpower and expertise training
was not given the due recognition and missed MARPOL 73/78
opportunity to act as the lead agency in the
Incident Command Level. Maritime Zones Act No. 22 of 1976
Recommendations Captain (ASW) JPKP Kumara, RSP **, psn
NRX 1360
In keeping with the issues highlighted in
above conclusions and avert such occurrences SLCG Rohana
in future following remedial actions are proposed
for consideration in national and organizational
level;
a. Establish National Incident Management
System (NIMS) to handle such incidents/ disasters
effectively under MOD. Incident Command
System (ICS) to be a component of NIMS. Same
model would be drawn from FEMA in USA.
