THE TANKER ASSIMI—A CASE HISTORY1

ABSTRACT The tanker Assimi caught fire off the coast of Oman in January 1983 and subsequently broke up and sank in the Arabian Sea, approximately 200 miles equidistant from the coasts of Oman and Pakistan. This paper deals with the response actions taken by the Council for Conservation of the Environment and Prevention of Pollution (CCEPP) and the advisory role of the author during this incident. The author subsequently advised CCEPP on development of their programs of marine pollution prevention, control, and response and assisted in the preparation of a National Contingency Plan for Oman and provision of associated manpower and resources. The paper also outlines the advisory role of the International Maritime Organization in a developing country for prevention and control of marine pollution.