Kenya, Tanzania border flagged as oil spill hotspot in new study

A recent study has identified the Kenya–Tanzania border as one of seven hotspot areas for oil pollution from ships operating in the region's waters of the Indian Ocean.

The study by the Indian Ocean Commission states that the area in the Western Indian Ocean is vulnerable because of its proximity to the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

“This risk is further heightened by the busy tanker route to the Middle East. A significant oil pollution incident would have devastating effects on our region’s blue economy and ecosystems,” stated Mr. Hassan Joho, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, in a statement.

Stakeholders in the maritime industry in the region this week held an intensive training to test Kenya’s national response system to marine oil pollution.

The training focused on activating the National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan (NOSRCP) and mobilising national resources.

The training also tested regional and international cooperation mechanisms by activating the draft Regional Contingency Plan (RCPL) and engaging mutual assistance protocols.

In the statement presented by Indian Ocean Commission Navy Fleet Commander Brigadier Mohamed Shemote during a training session at the Bandari Maritime Academy, Joho observed that the MV Wakashio accident in Mauritius was a sobering reminder that the region could experience an oil spill, hence the need for preparedness.

“The lingering effects of the MV Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius serve as a sobering reminder that, despite improvements in marine safety and security, we must remain vigilant.

“States must be prepared to assist ships in distress and respond swiftly and collaboratively to marine pollution incidents,” he added.

The MV Wakashio was a bulk carrier that ran aground on a coral reef off the southeastern coast of Mauritius on July 25, 2020, causing panic among maritime stakeholders after 1,000 metric tonnes of fuel out of the 4,200 metric tonnes that it was carrying leaked. The oil spill impacted the island’s sensitive coastal environment and marine life.

Acting Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) director general Mr Isaiah Nakoru noted that the risk of a major oil spill remains high given the coastal location and maritime traffic, adding that the best line of defence was unwavering preparedness.

“Over the years, the Authority has made considerable investments in building national capacity through training and periodic simulation exercises.

“However, this occasion marks a significant milestone. For the first time, we are drilling the full activation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) and formally requesting regional and international assistance under a tier III oil spill scenario,” he stated.

The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Kenya Navy, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) led efforts to strengthen regional readiness against maritime oil pollution through the Maritime Search and Pollution Response Exercise (MASEPOLREX25) field training exercise.

Other participants came from the South African Maritime Safety Authority, the Kenya Navy, the Oil Spill Mutual Aid Group, the Kenya Red Cross, the Nairobi Convention, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, Oil Spill Response Limited, and the consultants supporting the exercise.

The training aims to assess and improve response mechanisms in the event of an oil spill in the Western Indian Ocean region through enhancement of response mechanisms. 

 The simulation, coordinated by KMA in collaboration with the Kenya Navy and KPA, also aims to evaluate national and regional preparedness, test emergency protocols, and foster cooperation among neighbouring states towards combating oil spillage. 

 KMA director for Maritime Safety and Exercise Coordinator, Engineer Julius Koech, stated that the scenario simulates a collision between two oil tankers at the Kenya-Tanzania maritime border, resulting in a major oil spill. 

 “We are testing the management of a large-scale maritime crisis by activating the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. This involves a multi-sectoral, multi-agency incident management team comprising both state and non-state actors,” Koech explained.

Koech said the government has invested significantly in oil spill preparedness, including training responders and establishing a cleanup fund. 

“We have built capacity over the years and ensured that our partners like the Kenya Navy and KPA have the necessary equipment and skills to manage such incidents,” he added. 

KPA managing director Captain William Ruto said the authority has developed a contingency plan to respond to oil spills that occur within the harbour waters and beyond that may affect port operations. 

“For us at the Kenya Ports Authority, in line with the KPA Oil Spill response and contingency plan, we have an obligation to plan, resource, and respond to oil spills that occur within the harbour waters, including outside port limits, that may affect port operations,” Ruto stated.

He said that the regional field training exercise on marine oil pollution response was a timely opportunity to gauge the country’s national oil spill contingency plan and evaluate the capacity of local agencies to respond to real-time incidents. 

The training runs from July 7 to 11 this year. The exercise includes deployment of offshore containment equipment and a simulated shoreline cleanup at Nyali Beach in Mombasa County, following the hypothetical drift of heavy fuel oil towards the Kenyan Coast. 

KPA will deploy its Mv Mwokozi, Tangulizi, and Duma tugs alongside the Kenya Navy vessel Shupavu. 

Officer-In-Charge of the Indian Ocean Commission, Mr Raj Mohabeer, commended Kenya’s level of preparedness in controlling oil spills, noting that many countries in the region are still in the early stages of developing marine pollution response frameworks. 

“Kenya has a well-structured national oil spill contingency plan, organised response systems, and appropriate equipment. One objective of this exercise is to facilitate experience sharing so that other countries can replicate Kenya’s model,” Mohabeer noted. 

He said a single country cannot manage marine pollution and urged regional states under IOC are working under the Nairobi Convention to develop a regional contingency plan. He noted that the plan is expected to be ready by August next year.

Brigadier Mohamed Shemote described the training exercise as critical for regional maritime security; it was the second after a similar drill carried out in 2023. 

“Oil spills are transboundary by nature. A spill from Mombasa can affect Somalia or Tanzania. Therefore, joint operations help us identify and address gaps in our systems,” he explained.