From August 19 to 22, 2025, representatives from several institutions and related companies in Guatemala gathered in the capital city to participate in the Seminar Workshop on Preparedness for Response to Oil Spills at Sea, a key event in the implementation of the National Contingency Plan (PNC).
The Ministry of National Defense organized the activity through the Guatemalan Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, in coordination with the Central American Maritime Transport Commission (COCATRAM) and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF).
Over four days, international specialists such as Miguel Ciriero and Marta Panero, ITOPF consultants, Klaus Essig, Expert Consultant, together with José Dopeso, Director of Maritime and Port Affairs at COCATRAM, held conferences, presentations, shared experiences, and conducted tabletop exercises.
The meeting was attended by institutions involved in maritime safety and emergency management, including the National Port Commission, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons, GRANELSA, OTSA, ORAZUL, TICSA, CONAP, CONAPAC, CONACAR, and DIGEPESCA.
It included various topics such as Introduction to Marine Pollution Incidents, Properties and Behavior of Hydrocarbons at Sea, Incident Preparedness Management, Incident Command System, Indemnity Agreements, Modeling for the Behavior and Trajectory of Spills at Sea, Environmental and Economic Impacts of a Spill, Response Strategies, and Waste Management, among others.
These types of activities strengthen inter-institutional coordination for incident prevention, in addition to ensuring an effective response that prioritizes the protection of human life, marine ecosystems, and coastlines in the event of oil spills at sea.