The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy are participating in the oil spill emergency response training programme, funded by the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP).

Scheduled from 5 to 16 January 2025, the programme aims to enhance regional preparedness and response capabilities for oil spill incidents.

Seventeen sailors from the MNDF Coast Guard, three employees from EPA, and two representatives from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy are joined by ten officers from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard in this specialised training initiative.

Conducted in collaboration with the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the British High Commission in the Maldives, the programme covers key areas such as International Maritime Organization (IMO) Levels 1, 2, and 3, and Incident Command System (ICS) modules 100, 200, and 300.

Additionally, the programme incorporates advanced techniques, including aerial surveillance and shoreline cleanup assessment, to enhance participants' ability to effectively manage oil spill incidents.