The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol Agreement) requires that all marine mining vessels should have the necessary equipment and skills to attend to an oil spill incident.

Following an assessment on the company’s preparedness to effectively manage a possible oil spill, Debmarine Namibia has worked with several stakeholders to put in place the necessary measures to ensure it is properly prepared for such an incident off the Namibian coastal line and that any environmental impacts would be minimised.

Working with an international company that specialises in tackling oil spills, the company reviewed its oil spill contingency plan.

Debmarine Namibia has spent over N$10 million procuring the necessary equipment from a local company for its mining vessels to attend to a major oil spill, should it occur.

Just as importantly, the company facilitated training for 23 participants through a series of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Workshops in the first half of 2023. The training, which took place in Windhoek, Lüderitz and Oranjemund, included employees as well as representatives from Namport and the Ministries of Fisheries and Works. The workshop aimed to enhance readiness, knowledge, and skills in managing potential oil spill incidents at sea and on the shoreline. This collaboration also resulted in the establishment of the national Marine Pollution Contingency Plan Operation Committee.

Debmarine Namibia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SACCOB), which aims to facilitate the evacuation, treatment and rehabilitation of seabirds in the event of an oil spill in Namibian waters.