In 1977, nine oil companies operating in the Caribbean formed the Clean Caribbean Cooperative, now known as Clean Caribbean & Americas (CCA).  The cooperative's objective was and is to enhance the capability to promptly and efficiently respond to marine oil spills in the region. Since then the Membership has grown to include most of the major international and regional oil companies and oil related facilities in the Caribbean and Latin America. CCA's Area of Interest extends from the shoreline to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles) as depicted in the picture.

The cooperative conducts its business activities as a non-profit U.S. corporation (Clean Caribbean Corporation) and is managed by a full-time staff. The inventory of equipment and supplies, which is capable of responding to a major oil spill anywhere in the region, is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, in close proximity to two major international airports. As speed is essential for a successful oil spill response operation, CCA equipment is specifically designed and packaged to be air mobile for available commercial cargo aircraft (DC-8, B727, B757) capable of landing and unloading at a wide variety of airports. Consequently, the major advantage of CCA Membership is immediate access to an inventory capable of arriving at the spill site in a short time.

CCA has incorporated all recognized methods and tools of combating marine oil spills into its response inventory, including containment, mechanical recovery, temporary storage, shoreline clean-up and telecommunications for command and control. Because experience has shown that containment and recovery of oil may be difficult or impossible due to weather or limited access to the spill site, CCA has developed a significant dispersant capability, which includes the Airborne Dispersant Delivery System (ADDS) and 30,000 gallons (113,500 liters) of dispersant. CCA has the capability to conduct in-situ burning of oil through the use of fireproof boom and igniter equipment.

CCA Members do not act collectively to respond to an oil spill. The actual deployment of CCA equipment, management of the response operation, and financial obligations are solely the responsibility of the spiller or requesting agency. However, by rapidly mobilizing equipment, contractors and other support under a well exercised response system, CCA has collectively developed a capability for Members to respond to and substantially mitigate the environmental effects of an oil spill. CCA Technical Advisors typically deploy with equipment to provide technical support on the deployment, operation and maintenance of the equipment.  The training of Member company personnel, government representatives and support contractors is also the key to an effective response system.

In a spill, CCA equipment and materials are provided through a pre-executed Sale Agreement. The Sale Agreement includes provisions for CCA to repurchase equipment, thereby lowering the equipment component of spill costs. Where equipment is not repurchased, proceeds from the sale are used to restock the inventory, ensuring a "perpetual" inventory without additional capital costs to Members.

CCA operates on the premise that an effective response to a major oil spill is best accomplished through close cooperation and coordination with local industry and national governments. An active Government-Industry Liaison  promotes National Contingency Planning with the governments in the Area of Interest. Areas of focus include establishing mechanisms for expediting customs and immigration clearance, identifying and prioritizing sensitive resources, telecommunications frequency coordination, and enhancing decision-making on the use of dispersants and in-situ burning.

Over the years CCA has developed into the acknowledged leader in oil spill response in the Caribbean, Latin America and South American region. For further information please contact :

Paul A. Schuler 
President
2381 Stirling Road
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33312 USA
staff@cleancaribbean.org
Tel: (954) 983-9880
Fax: (954) 987-3001