Cayman Island

Spill Notification Point

Emergency Communications (911 Centre)

Tel: +1-345 943 4911 (emerg.) or +1-345 949 9008 (office)

Fax: +1 345 949 4386

Brent.finster@gov.ky

Competent National Authority

Department of Environment
580 North Sound Road PO Box 486 Grand Cayman KY1 1106

Tel: +1-345 949 8469

Fax: +1 345 949 4020

Gina.ebanks-petrie@gov.ky

Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Development & Commerce Government Administration Building
Elgin Avenue Grand Cayman

Tel: +1 345 244 2458

Fax: +1 345 945 1746

Timothy.hubbell@gov.ky

Response Arrangements

The Cayman Islands National Oil Spill Contingency Plan was adopted in 1997 and enabled in legislation in 2001.  Under the Plan, the Ministry responsible for environmental affairs approves policy for oil spill prevention and response, whilst the Department of Environment provides the operational role for spill response, training, planning and administration.  An incident command centre is used to draw expertise and resources from various government and private agencies. 

As a dependency of the United Kingdom, further assistance would be sought from the UK in the event of a major incident.

Response Policy

Given the abundance of environmentally sensitive nearshore and coastal resources which forms the basis of eco-tourism, a high priority is placed on habitat protection. The use of Net Environmental Benefit Analysis is typically implemented to determine response strategy.  Aerial application of dispersants remains a key tool in protecting sensitive shoreline and endangered species along with booming and other traditional response techniques. Small amounts of recovered oil are incinerated rather than landfilled.  There are no immediate means for the disposal of large amounts of oil or oily debris.

Equipment

Government

The government holds a stock of dispersant, and two government-owned crop-spraying aircraft are constantly available for aerial spraying of dispersant at sea.  A substantial collection of tier 1 equipment is housed in three dedicated response trailers for island wide deployment, including 8000ft of 18" boom on 6 mobile trailers, 8 skimmers, 3 diesel and 3 gasoil powered pumps, storage tanks, personal protection equipment, hand tools, sorbents, lights and generators.  The Marine Parks officers are trained to respond to spills and have open boats for monitoring and surveillance. A manual labour force of 100-150 people could be mustered for beach clean-up. Heavy machinery used by the construction industry may be available for use on severely oiled beaches.

Private

Local operating oil companies, Texaco and Esso, have the following equipment - 2 skimmers and several storage bladders - for responding to minor spills at their terminals.  This could also be made available to the government. There are several privately-owned tugs and barges available for hire in the port. 

Previous Spill Experience

There have been a number of minor operational spills at the terminals. These have been allowed to disperse naturally or with the aid of chemical dispersants.

Conventions

Prevention & Safety

MARPOL Annexes
73/78IIIIV V VI

Spill Response

OPRC '90 OPRC HNS

Compensation

CLCFundSuppHNS*Bunker
'69 '76 '92 '92Fund

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

  • Cartagena Convention (with states of the Wider Caribbean Region).

Date of issue: May 2011

Terms & Conditions

These Country & Territory Profiles are provided in good faith as a guide only and are based on information obtained from a variety of sources over a period of time.  This information is subject to change and should, in each case, be independently verified before reliance is placed on it. Country & Territory Profiles may have been re-issued solely to incorporate additional or revised information under one heading only.  Each Profile has therefore not necessarily been completely verified or updated as at the stated Date of Issue.

ITOPF Limited (“ITOPF”) hereby excludes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all liability to any person, corporation or other entity for any loss, damage or expense resulting from reliance on or use of these Country & Territory Profiles.

©ITOPF Limited 2018.

These Country & Territory Profiles may be reproduced by any means for non-commercial distribution without addition, deletion or amendment, provided an acknowledgement of the source is given and these Terms & Conditions are reproduced in full. 

These Country & Territory Profiles may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of ITOPF either for commercial distribution or with addition, deletion or amendment.