As in many other countries in South America, in Ecuador the Navy plays a major role in the administration and control of its maritime affairs. The following is the general organizational structure of the Maritime Administration in this country.

　

　

The General Directorate of the Merchant Marine and Coasts (DIGMER in Spanish)is the major player in this organization, as it is the one that executes the policies established by the government through the two top bodies composed of the Defence Minister, Navy's General Commander, plus other senior navy officers and ministers.

　

DIGMER-Direccion General de la Marina Mercante y del Litoral

Elizalde #101 y Malecon

Guayaquil-Ecuador

Phone: 593-4-320400 Fax: 593-4-320385

　

Besides executing the general maritime policies, DIGMER supervises the correct application of the Flag State's Rules, Regulations and International Conventions that the country is adhered to; among them:

　

　

The main areas of concern for this organization, as described in the above graph, are:

　

As a branch of the Navy, they enforce the maritime and port authority along the coasts, rivers and islands of the country. They are divided in three distinct zones according to their geographic location: Continental Pacific Coast, Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest. Basic functions include, monitor the movements of vessels in their respective areas, safeguard the environment and collaborate on search and rescue missions.

　

Controls the maritime activities on the sea territorial waters and rivers, in order to contribute to the protection of human life at sea, neutralization of illegal activities at sea, the preservation of the coastal environment and the internal security of the country.

　

Provides education and training for seafarers and officers. Also offers short training courses on GMDSS System, ARPA radar system, fire fighting and oil pollution contingencies.

　

The crude and fuel oil is exported by the country through three main terminals; Balao, Libertad and Salitral. A Superintendent, who deals with the operational and environmental aspects of crude oil handling, manages each terminal.

　

Through the Directorate of Ports and Coasts, DIGMER controls, supervises and performs analysis and/or studies on the port activities of the four major Port Authorities in the country. Guayaquil Port Authority is, by far, the number one in terms of cargo capacity and berth availability. Additionally, the Directorate performs feasibility studies for the construction of new port terminals and/or expansion of existing ones.

　

The basic function, in this area, is to administer the activities related to the merchant mariner, the traffic and transport by sea. This area is divided in three distinct Departments:

　

　

Ecuador does not posses a significant merchant fleet, most of the foreign trade is handled by major operators from Europe, US, Asia and South America with their respective representation agencies in Quito and the four major ports, Guayaquil, Manta, Esmeraldas and Puerto Bolivar.

　

For the exports of crude oil the state owned shipping company, FLOPEC, currently operates a fleet of seven tankers. Four of them are newly built double hulls, bought in 1999 to the Hyundai Heavy Ind. shipyard of South Korea. Additionally, the company keeps up with any additional demand through chartered vessels provided by shipping companies based in Piraeus, Greece.

　

FLOPEC-Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana

Ave. Amazonas # 1188 y Cordero

Edificio FLOPEC

P.O BOX NO.17-03-535-A

QUITO - ECUADOR

Phone: (593-2) 552-100

Fax: (593-2) 501-428

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

In recent years, there have not been major or significant marine disasters in Ecuador. However, on January this year a spill of fuel oil at the Galapagos Islands, caused by the grounding of the M/V "Jessica", threatened to put the ecosystem of the islands at great danger.

　

　The Jessica's captain, Mr. Tarquino Arevalo explained that it had been his nautical error, which caused the vessel to collide with an underwater rock and the consequent spill of over 160,000 gallons of fuel. Fortunately, the sea currents helped to wash away the dangerous liquid from the fragile coasts of the islands. Now, the responsibility rests on the captain's shoulders and the "Jessica's" managing company Acotramar, based in Guayaquil.

　

　

The Ecuadorian Navy plays also a leading role in the country's marine research through its oceanographic institute, INOCAR (Instituto Oceanografico de la Armada). This is actually the one and only local authority in the field of research and exploration of the sea and the marine environment.

　

INOCAR - Instituto Oceanografico de la Armada

Base Naval Sur

Av. 25 de Julio

GUAYAQUIL-ECUADOR

　

The main activities covered by INOCAR are:

　

Recent Projects:

　

Through the years, the Institute has also expanded its activities to the Antarctica, establishing a scientific base there in 1989 and completing it by 1998. In the numerous expeditions to this frozen continent, there have been many projects being developed on the continent as well as along the voyage. An important database has been built up during all these years, collecting chemical and biological samples from the seawater and through evaluations of the general conditions of the atmosphere.