Artikel 9

The Contracting Parties designate the Organization to carry out, through the Regional Co-ordinating Unit when established and in close co-operation with the International Maritime Organization, the following functions:
(a) assisting Contracting Parties, upon request, in the following areas: (i) the preparation, periodic review and updating of the contingency plans referred to in paragraph 2 of article 3, with a view, inter alia, to promoting the compatibility of the plans of the Contracting Parties, and
(ii) publicizing training courses and programmes;
(i) the preparation, periodic review and updating of the contingency plans referred to in paragraph 2 of article 3, with a view, inter alia, to promoting the compatibility of the plans of the Contracting Parties, and
(ii) publicizing training courses and programmes;
(b) assisting the Contracting Parties upon request, on a regional basis, in the following areas: (i) the co-ordination of regional emergency response activities, and
(ii) the provision of a forum for discussion of such activities and related topics;
(i) the co-ordination of regional emergency response activities, and
(ii) the provision of a forum for discussion of such activities and related topics;
(c) establishing and maintaining liaison with: (i) competent regional and international organizations, and
(ii) appropriate private entities conducting activities in the wider Caribbean region, including major oil producers, refiners, oil spill clean-up contractors and co-operatives, and oil transporters;
(i) competent regional and international organizations, and
(ii) appropriate private entities conducting activities in the wider Caribbean region, including major oil producers, refiners, oil spill clean-up contractors and co-operatives, and oil transporters;
(d) maintaining a current inventory of emergency response equipment, materials and expertise available in the wider Caribbean region;
(e) disseminating information on the prevention and combating of oil spills;
(f) identifying or maintaining means for emergency response communications;
(g) encouraging research by the Contracting Parties, competent international organizations and appropriate private entities on oil spill-related matters, including the environmental impacts of oil spills and of oil spill control materials and techniques;
(h) assisting the Contracting Parties in the exchange of information pursuant to article 4; and
(i) preparing reports and carrying out other duties assigned to it by the Contracting Parties.