Minister: Facilities in place at sea

THE Transport Department through the National Maritime and Safety Authority (NMSA) has oil spill facilities at established central marine points in the country to attend to spillage situations at sea, Minister William Samb says.
Samb said a team was in West New Britain recently where discussions were held on accessing a facility in Kimbe Port where a rescue and search boat and oil spill facility could be accommodated for the New Guinea Islands.
He said similar facilities would be established in Madang and Milne Bay.
He was responding to queries by Samarai-Murua MP Henry Isi-Leonard on the department’s accountability measures.
Isi-Leonard said a modern merchant ship Asian Lillie, which travelled at a very high speed (16-20 knots), ran aground on an island in the Kawai waters which resulted in oil and fuel spillage in the Jomard Passage on Dec 24, 2012.
“We have an oil spill team in (the authority) who are addressing that (but) our challenge was to (identify) their capabilities (and expertise in this field),” Samb said.
“I ask the chair that I get full briefing from the department and then I will report it in the next sitting, in this regard.”
Highlighting the speed of the vessel, he said: “Without the report I should not pre-empt but that is why we put in a submission to declare Jomard Passage as a compulsory pilotage area (approved by National Executive Council in July).
“Our inter-agency team comprising Transport, NMSA, Milne Bay government and other stakeholders are having a meeting to (ensure) process are in place, then we can bring the subsequent NEC submission.
“(Once we get an approval), we (would) control the Jomard Passage by collecting fees from vessels entering the that area.”
Samb said due to coral reefs, it was shallow and to avoid spillage it had be strict pilotage area.