(Communicated by the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection)
The marine pollution combat exercise, held on November 13-15, 2007, simulated a collision between two boats in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, resulting in the spill of some 1,600 tons of crude oil to sea. Such a catastrophic event could cause severe environmental degradation to the fragile and unique ecosystem of the region. Therefore, the exercise was designed to review the capability of the participants in the Oil Contingency Plan for the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba to respond to a major pollution event in a timely manner, effectively treat the oil spill and clean up the contaminated area on both sea and shore.
Deployment of booms to contain the oil spill
An essential part of the exercise related to cooperation with the “Prince Hamza” Marine Pollution Combat Unit from Aqaba Port and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Association (ASEZA). During the exercise, a call for assistance was dispatched to the relevant officials in the Port of Aqaba which resulted in the full cooperation of the Jordanian unit in deploying booms to contain the oil spill.
This year’s marine pollution training exercise follows similar exercises in previous years meant to enhance the skills of the joint response teams on both sides of the border. Joint action and mutual assistance in the event of a major oil spill in the Upper Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba are crucial to protect the natural and landscape assets which are shared by both Israel and Jordan.
The cooperation between Israel and Jordan in protecting the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba is also expressed in a joint monitoring program to assess the state of this natural resource. In December 2003, the two states agreed to launch a joint monitoring and data management program, which specifically recognizes the importance of transboundary coordination and cooperation between the national monitoring programs of the two countries to promote the long term sustainable use and conservation of their shared marine resources.
Recognition of the unique and fragile nature of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba has led both Israel and Jordan to maximize their efforts to protect this special area for more than a decade. Cooperation within the framework of contingency plans operating on both sides of the Gulf and joint monitoring programs are of high priority in safeguarding the unique and sensitive marine resources which are shared by both countries.