Visit of a delegation from KOREA and MERRAC – Nov 24, 2011

On 24 November REMPEC was visited by a delegation lead by Dr  Seong-Gil Kang, Director of  the Marine Environmental Emergency preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) , the REMPEC equivalent for the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) established in 2000 and composed of representatives of MERRAC, the Korean Coast Guard and the Korean  Ocean Research and Development Institute.

The day was devoted to an exchange of experience on  topics related to the mandate of both Centres. Besides updating each other on recent lessons learnt from recent spill incidents, the meeting went on discussing on issues related to prevention of pollution from ships, including transfer of aquatic organisms and pathogens through ballast waters from ships as well as satellite monitoring of illicit discharge from ships, which NOWPAP is considering as a possible field of future regional cooperation. This visit highlighted the common topics addressed in the regional seas and the need for regular exchange on recent developments.