Review of the Regional Strategy and Workplan for the Pacific Oceans Pollution Prevention Programme

The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated. Pacific Island Countries (PICs) maintain resource rights and management responsibilities for over 30million square kilometres of ocean, equivalent to the total land area of Canada , China and the USA . The total population of coastal pacific islanders is only 2.6 million. There are 11 square Kilometres of ocean for each Pacific Islander. Jurisdictionally, the ocean is 200 times more significant to the average Pacific Islander than it is to the average global citizen. At this level of importance, t he impacts of marine pollution are a major concern for PICs.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been implementing the Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Program (PACPOL). The PACPOL strategy was approved at the 10 th SPREP meeting in Apia 1998 with a work plan for a 5year period (2000-2004). It was also put-together in part, to implement the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (Noumea Convention) and related protocols. The four main focal points identified (but not restricted to) are:

•  Introduced marine species,

•  Marine spills (oil and other hazardous materials)

•  Discharge of ships’ waste (oil, sewage and garbage)

•  Impacts from the development and operation of ports.

The Pacific Island Countries participating in PACPOL are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia , Fiji , Kiribati , Marshall Islands , Nauru , Niue , Palau , Papua New Guinea , Samoa , Solomon Islands , Tonga , Tuvalu and Vanuatu .

The 7 Pacific Island Territories of American Samoa , French Polynesia, Guam , New Caledonia , Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna have linkages with PACPOL.

The four SPREP developed country members: Australia , France , NZ, and USA are all supporters of PACPOL

Summary of PACPOL work plan activities

The PACPOL programme was a 5-year programme (2000 – 2004) aimed at addressing shipping related marine pollution. Even though this programme was for 2000 – 2004, the main needs of the countries/region have not changed significantly and therefore, the priorities as per the existing programme would continue to apply to most of the countries. It is budgeted with funding from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP), to update the strategy in 2009 for another 5-year period.

PACPOL implementation funding was primarily from two donors: Canada through the Canada South Pacific Ocean Development Programme II (C-SPOD II) and the IMO ITCP. The funding from Canada ended in 2004 while the IMO ITCP is still ongoing.

The key target sectors are shipping, ports, fishing and the oil industry and the main contacts in countries are the maritime administrations with very close interaction with the private sector and industry groups.

The PACPOL Strategy includes a Work Plan that lists specific activities that are to be implemented. The focus has been on implementation of regional activities aimed at providing the tools, guidelines, procedures and technical advice. Implementation at the national level is the responsibility of the country.

Key highlights of PACPOL achievements have been:

•  A number of PICs becoming members of IMO with the most recent being Cooks in 2008. This brings the total to 10 PICs members of IMO. It is highly probable that FSM will become a member in 2010/2011, with possibilities of Palau , Niue and Nauru in later years.

•  The development of a model legislation for Marine Pollution jointly with SPC-RMP which led to the promulgation of the Marine Pollution Prevention Acts in Tonga, Cooks Islands and Samoa. Papua New Guinea ’s legislation is currently before their parliament, while Fiji and Nauru are in the process of drafting their legislation.

•  PACPOL has finalised its marine spill risk assessment which included a characterisation of shipping routes.

•  Also completed is an oil spill equipment study which was done in two parts - North & South Pacific. Australia and NZ provided specialist assistance for the South Pacific and the USCG provided assistance for the North Pacific.

•  The PACPLAN has been developed to strength and enhance corporation in the pacific region to respond to major oil spills. NATPLANs have also been developed for Tier II oil spills at the national level. At the facility level, Tier I, the industry have their own arrangements however PACPOL has been and is working with the Pacific Countries Ports Association to (PCPA) to develop PORTPLANs and with Pacific Power Authorities to develop energy utility plans. There have been numerous Marine Pollution workshops both regionally and nationally.

•  PACPOL has also published its review of ships’ waste management in the Pacific Islands Region. This review has quantified all ships’ waste for the region and also by country/territory. The report made recommendations on improvement of ships waste reception facilities in the region and provided a joint paper with our partners Australia and New Zealand to IMO MEPC in 2003 & 2008 for a regional approach designating 6 regional ports – Apra, Port Moresby, Noumea, Suva, Lautoka and Papeete. The MEPC recognised the regional arrangements however further amendments to MARPOL are required to institutionalise such arrangements.

•  PACPOL also completed a regional strategy to address WWII wrecks in the pacific region. The strategy is in two phases – Phase 1: Data collection, risk assessment methodology. Phase 2: Site specific assessment and Implementation of Remedial Action Plans (RAP). The USS Missisinewa was the first to undergo phases 1 and 2 – over 9 milion litres of heavy bunker oil was recovered at a cost of about $6Mil to the US Government. There are over 3000 wrecks in the database with over 800 WWII wrecks in the PICTs EEZs. The SPREP Council has directed the Secretariat that phase II will be addressed bilaterally between the WWII wreck flag state and the coastal state

•  In 2006 PACPOL developed the Regional Strategy to address Shipping Related Invasive Marine Pests in the Pacific Region (SRIMP-PAC). SRIMP-PAC has been part of the IMO Global Ballast Water Management (GloBallast) programme completing an Introductory training on Ballast Water Management and Port Biological Baseline Survey training in March 2009.

The Consultancy:

There are four key tasks and outputs for the Consultancy.

1) Review the 2000-2004 PACPOL strategy for Pacific Island Countries

a) Review of effectiveness and sustainability of activities carried out.

b) Review of current arrangements for management of marine pollution from ships.

2) Draft a revised PACPOL Strategy for Pacific Island Countries.

a) The strategy should be drafted from a regional context but recognising that implementation is primarily at the national level being able to be used as a template for national strategies.

b) Consider the regional and global frameworks for marine pollution within which the regional strategy will be implemented. It must be consistent with the Noumea Convention & Protocols, MARPOL, OPRC, CLC, BWM Convention and associated IMO Guidelines.

c) Address key issues already identified in the existing PACPOL strategy but not limited to Marine Spills, Introduced marine species (SRIMP-PAC), Discharge of Ships’ waste, Port Management and World War II wrecks.

d) Consideration should be given to addressing the global issue of Marine Litter.

e) Address foundation activities such as awareness raising, research and data collection, legislation and policy, capacity building (facilities, human resources and methodologies), funding and linkages/networking.

f) Consider similar work that has been carried out in the region in particular Australia , New Zealand and USA .

g) Consider strategies and action plans/programmes that have been developed in other countries and regions of the world.

h) Consider the current capabilities of pacific island countries to ensure that the strategy is appropriate to both their needs and capabilities.

3) Develop proposal templates for work plan items that will address the implementation of the revised strategy. The proposal template should:

a) Identify recipient beneficiary pilot countries for regional projects and where specific country projects are likely, identify country recipients.

b) Identify potential funding sources for implementation.

c) Identify timeframes for implementation.

4) Draft a “Summary for Policy Makers” that summarises the revised strategy and the templates of Management Measures.

Timeframe

2 months (Mid July – September 2009)

Carrying out the Consultancy

The Consultancy will be on a fixed fee basis and subject to SPREP’s Consultancy Conditions.

The funds provided for the Consultancy limits the study to being a mixture of country visits as well as a desk-based study. This is the major reason for prequalification of consultants to those being familiar with the region. It is envisioned that travel will be to at least 3 PICs i.e. one country per sub-region as well as to travel consultation between the Consultant and the Marine Pollution Adviser (MPA). Consultation with other key country contacts will be carried out by phone and electronically. This will be facilitated by the MPA but it is ultimately the responsibility of the Consultant.

2 hard copies and 5 electronic copies (CDs) of the draft revised strategy, proposal templates are to be delivered to the MPA by the 30 th of September 2009.

The finalisation of the draft Strategy falls outside the scope of this consultancy and will be the responsibility of the MPA.

Country consultation will be carried out by the MPA and the consultant in Sept 14 th -18 th 2009 Regional training that will be held in Suva Fiji . Other follow up country consultations will be carried out by the MPA when he undertakes country missions and other related meetings. The update of work on the Review of the PACPOL strategy is intended to be presented at the 20 th SPREP meeting in Apia from the 1-4 th September 2009 as a side event with a final draft to be submitted for approval at the 21 st SPREP Meeting in 2010.

Instructions to bidders

Consultants are invited to tender for the Consultancy. Tender information must include:

•  Outline of approach to meet the Tender requirements

•  Name(s) and updated short CV of Consultant

•  Information on availability

•  Work Programme including total days proposed for the review and daily rate in US$, methodology and work plan.

•  The tender must include cost for professional fees, travel and per diem

•  US$ must be used in the Tender

•  The consultancy preferably should commence by Mid July 2009.

•  The offer must be in English language only.

•  The above-mentioned documents, information and requirements are mandatory and as such are required to form a complete tender. An offer will be rejected unless it is substantially responsive

•  If the tender proposal is received prior to the formal submission date corrections/modifications can be made up to that date

•  The final working plan will be determined subsequently between the successful Contractor and SPREP.

•  Acknowledgements of the receipt of tender proposals will be provided by e-mail. Successful as well as unsuccessful bidders will be informed by e-mail once the evaluation and selection process are completed.

Award of Contract and Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1.   Price (20%)

2.   Relevant Experience in marine pollution management in small island environments (30%)

3.   Experience with the PICs and/or SIDS in areas of shipping/port management and/or environment/quarantine (20%)

4.   Methodology/Work Plan (30%)