Strengthening oil spill preparedness in the Cayman Islands
Rubis Cayman Islands Limited (RCIL) recognised the importance of enhancing its oil spill preparedness and response capabilities, particularly with regard to road based incidents, which are often overlooked in comparison to maritime spills. This need arose from a significant gap in local response planning for land-based fuel spills, as highlighted by the potential for a fuel truck rollover incident in a high traffic area like Hurley’s roundabout in Grand Cayman.
In response, RCIL partnered with OSRL to conduct a customised 3-day workshop in Grand Cayman, focusing on both maritime and landside fuel spill response scenarios. This collaboration was part of a larger training development and delivery strategy, initiated by Matt Simmons, starting with a training programme in Bermuda in 2016. The programme, which expanded to include training sessions in Guyana and Martinique in 2022, culminated in the Grand Cayman session following six months of joint planning between OSRL and Rubis. The goal was to enhance local preparedness and foster public-private partnerships.
What the workshop was designed to achieve
The primary goal of the customised training programme was to provide a comprehensive understanding of oil spill response strategies for both maritime and land-based incidents.
Specific objectives included:
- Enhancing the collaboration between RCIL and key government agencies involved in emergency response.
- Addressing gaps in preparedness for potential fuel truck rollover incidents on land.
- Building local capacity to manage and respond to oil spill emergencies, both on land and at sea
Designing a workshop around local risks
Type of training:
OSRL delivered a combination of table-top exercises and detailed discussions, customised to reflect local risks. This included presentations and case studies of both marine and inland responses.
Tailored elements:
The workshop focused on a specific scenario of a fuel truck rollover at Hurley’s roundabout, a high-traffic area prone to such incidents. The exercise aimed to explore the unique risks and response strategies for land-based spills, a departure from the typical maritime fuel spill focus.
Modules covered:
- Maritime protections and services offered to OSRL members.
- Assessment of RCIL’s facilities in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac for oil spill preparedness.
- Comparison of response techniques for crude oils versus white oils (aviation fuel, diesel, and gasoline), including the different environmental impacts and clean-up strategies.
- Discussion of the role of passing vessels in exacerbating or mitigating spill impacts.
Government involvement and collaboration
The importance of involving government departments was a key factor in the success of this training. Participants included representatives from the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, National Roads Authority (NRA), Royal Cayman Islands Fire Service (RCIFS), Department of Environmental Health (DEH), Department of Environment (DOE), Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), the Cayman Islands Regiment, and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). Rubis and OSRL worked together to identify and address preparedness gaps while ensuring that dialogue between private and public stakeholders remained open.
This holistic approach ensured that the training exercises grew in complexity as the days progressed, with Rubis bringing in key stakeholders to foster collaboration across all levels.
Impact of the training programme
Improved response capabilities
The workshop significantly enhanced local capacities for responding to both maritime and land-based spills. It provided valuable insights into local preparedness levels and identified key areas for improvement in the event of an oil spill.
Compliance with regulations
The workshop helped ensure that both RCIL and government agencies are better aligned with international oil spill response standards and local regulatory requirements.
This 3-day workshop was a great opportunity for both RCIL and the relevant Government agencies to understand in more detail the local capacities in terms of responding to an incident of this nature, and by also identifying some areas of improvement, as well as practicing this type of scenario to be better prepared to respond in a more effective and efficient way.
Key insights from the workshop
Challenges faced:
The primary challenge identified was the gap in response preparedness for land-based fuel spills. This was addressed by incorporating a unique road-based spill scenario into the training, providing participants with a realistic understanding of the risks associated with such incidents.
Benefits of customisation:
The tailored approach to include a road-based spill scenario proved highly beneficial, as it allowed RCIL and its partners to address a previously enderexplored risk. Additionally, the collaboration between the public and private sectors fostered stronger relationships that will be crucial in future emergency responses. Customising the training to the specific challenges of the organisation, from their structure to the limitations of their location, was critical in creating a training scenario that is relevant to the client.
Regional expertise supporting spill preparedness
In the same way that our team travelled to the Cayman Islands to deliver customised training, OSRL’s strategic locations in the Americas, including USA and Brazil, ensure that our team can easily travel to deliver training across the region. The ability to conduct training in multiple languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese, has been essential, particularly for clients across South America.
Our Americas team benefits from the knowledge of leaders with 25+ years of experience in major oil spill incidents, including the Macondo spill, providing the expertise needed to handle complex situations. Our trainers have seen it all, and this extensive experience allows us to customise training programmes to fit the unique needs of organisations, ensuring that risks like tanker rollovers and other local challenges are effectively addressed.
OSRL’s support does not end with the training session. We stay in touch to provide further preparedness services where needed. In this case, future collaborations are already underway, with plans for the procurement of response trailers for land incidents and IMO (International Maritime Organization) training for government hazardous management teams. The successful collaboration with Rubis in the Cayman Islands has sparked further interest from Rubis Eastern Caribbean, based in Barbados, for similar oil spill preparedness programmes.
The workshop spurred the momentum that will lead to continued improvements in the ability for the Cayman Islands to actively respond to different spill scenarios, and OSRL looks forward to engaging with Rubis and the Cayman Islands to support that endeavour.
