THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Directorate General for Sea Transportation (DGST) of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) on Monday , June 24, launched their four-day Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2024 at BREDCO Port, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Leading the arrival ceremony earlier were PCG District Western Visayas chief Capt. Weneil Azcuna who is also skipper of BRP Gabriela Silang, Capt. Lawrence Roque, KN TRISULA P111 commanding officer, Capt. Satria Aji Yudha of DGST, and PLH 02 TSUGARU head Capt. Mori Naoki (JCG).
The three coast guards will conduct joint maritime exercises on search and rescue, firefighting, oil spill and equipment recovery operations, as well as damage assessment.
Prior to these exercises, the commanding officers and members of the oil spill response team will determine the position of the vessels and other assets to ensure safe speed and distance through a comprehensive table top exercise.
The biennial MARPOLEX implements the 1981 Sulawesi Sea Oil Spill Response Network Plan Agreement.
This year’s MARPOLEX is the 23rd conduct of such maritime exercise since its establishment in 1986.
The PCG and the DGST maintain a strong fraternal agreement that promotes multilateral cooperation toward addressing major oil spills in the Asian region.
Meanwhile, the JCG supports the initiative that enhances the Philippines and Indonesia’s operational readiness and capability for oil spill incidents, making the Regional MARPOLEX 2024 an opportunity to share knowledge and latest techniques in maritime safety and marine environmental protection.