NZ HIGH COMMISSIONER PRESENTS nzd$140,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT TO SAMOA PORTS.
REMARKS BY NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SAMOA, Dr. TREVOR MATHESON TO HAND OVER MARINE OIL SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT VALUED AT NZ$140,000 TO THE SAMOA PORTS AUTHORITY. 31 March 2021- Matauta-tai SPA Warehouse
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) – CEO So’oalo Kuera So’oalo
Ministry of Works, Transport & Infrastructure (MWTI) – CEO Magele Hoe Viali
Senior government officials
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Ladies and gentlemen
Talofa lava. I’m delighted to be here at this morning’s event. Thank you to the Samoa Ports Authority for kindly hosting us.
On our way in this morning, the Apia port struck me as a vibrant place of work and as a key entrance to the beautiful city of Apia for visiting seafarers, sailors and fisher folk. When I look to the sea, past the reef and lagoon, my eyes meet the blue water, the ships and their sailors. When I look to the land, I see containers and movers toiling away, ensuring critical supply chains in this COVID environment remain open and functioning.
All this activity is a stark reminder of our important role in promoting maritime and port safety and the dual responsibility this entails that is protecting our ports as economic assets tans safeguarding our marine environment as a shared and limited resource for future generations to come.
This reminds me of a Maori proverbs or whakatauki: “Te moana- ko au, te moana ko te moana ko au”. Te moana- the sea. I am the sea, the sea is me. The message is simple- Take care of the sea and the sea will take care of us.
Through our collective and collaborative maritime safety efforts, I am pleased to be here to provide brief remarks in relation to the oil spill response equipment being handed over today. This equipment was produced at the cost of NZD$140,000 by Maritime NZ under the New Zealand funded regional Pacific Maritime Safety Programme (PMSP). Phase 3 of the PMSP (or PMSP3) has been ongoing for three years from 2018/19 to 2020/2021
Samoa joined Phase 3 in 2018 after which a marine oil spill risk assessment was conducted by Maritime NZ. The assessment identified an increased risk of oil spills as well as the resources and capacity development investment required to support Samoa’s preparedness and response to these types of maritime emergencies
On this note, Malo lava to our key maritime partners- The Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI), the Samoa Port Authority (SPA) and our Ministry of Finance (MOF) colleagues- in working collaboratively together to secure this investment for Samoa and to ensure its swift and effective use in the future maritime oil spill emergency responses.
I also congratulate the Maritime NZ team for organizing the successful procurement and delivery of this equipment. When borders fully reopen, I look forward to the roll out of capacity building initiatives in support of the safe operation and maintenance of this equipment.
In today’s world, we are no strangers to emergencies, whether they be global, regional or national in scale. Oil spills, such as the 2010 Deep-water Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, are impactful environment disasters that have long lasting effects to the landscape, native species, and inhabitants who depend on the area.
We’ve had our share of oil spills in Aotearoa New Zealand too. In March last year we had an oil spill at Sulphur Point in Tauranga. An estimate 2,000 liters of oily sludge is believed to have been discharged from a tanker truck as it was removing the sludge from a vessel. Some of this sludge entered the port.
Tauranga is also the location of New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster. The Rena oil spill occurred off the coast of Tauranga in October 2011. The spill was caused by the grounding of the MV Rena on the Astrolabe Reef. The Rena was a Greek container ship and cargo vessel chartered by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). It was carrying 1,368 containers, eight of which contained hazardous materials, as well as 1,700 tons of heavy fuel oil and 200 tons of marine diesel oil. Nearly all the oil seeped into the sea and coastal waters.
We don’t ever want to see a Rena event in Samoa. Prevention is far better than cure. It is no surprise therefore that our continued support and collaboration in areas of emergency response and preparedness is a key pillar in the Aotearoa New Zealand- Samoa ‘Statement for Partnership’ and our development programme.
Ours is a commitment to continue to work together – through the PMSP3 and other regional maritime programme- to strengthen Samoa’s resilience through improving maritime safety and navigation.
Moreover, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the Government of Samoa and key maritime stakeholders for their participation in a recently completed review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s maritime support to the Pacific. Your helpful feedback will inform the direction and nature of our future maritime support
I wish everyone a safe and happy Wednesday, and a holy Easter
God Bless
Nga mihi nunui / Soifua ma ia Manuia
Backgroud/status update
• NZ MFAT funds the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme Phase 3 (PMSP3)
2018/19-2020/21 WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED BY Maritime NZ. Samoa joined the PMSP3 IN EARLY 2018 AFTER WHICH A SCOPING VISIT WAS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY ITS MARITIME SAFETY NEEDS.
• In September 2018, Maritime NZ completed a Marine Oil Spill Risk Assessment for Samoa which is identified the potential for various types of oil spills and marine pollution, as well as the equipment needed to respond to those scenarios, appropriate locations for storage and development, and the relevant training and capacity building to operate and maintain equipment.
• In 2020/2021, Maritime NZ produced the required equipment using PSMP3 funds. The total cost of the equipment was approximately NZD 140,000
• With current COVID border closures and travel restrictions, there was a delay in commissioning the equipment and rolling out training.
