Oil Spill Response Aerial Surveillance West Africa

Aerial surveillance with regional reach: supporting timely oil spill detection and response efforts.

The West Africa Surveillance Platform (WASP) service enhances OSRL’s Tier 2 preparedness offering with dedicated aerial surveillance across the West African coastline. This enhanced membership coverage service is available to our members, offering access to a strategically positioned aerial surveillance capability.

Developed in partnership with Action-Air Environnement (AAE), the service operates two dedicated aircraft – a Cessna 337 based in Lomé, Togo, and a Piper PA-23 based in Libreville, Gabon. These aircraft are equipped with advanced fixed Medium Wave Infra-Red (MWIR) and Electro-Optical (EO) RGB sensors, delivering real-time intelligence and high-quality imagery to support verification and quantification of oil spills.

Covering a region that extends 150 miles offshore from the northern boundary of Mauritania to the southern tip of South Africa, WASP delivers fast and effective situational awareness during a response. Data captured during missions is securely recorded and available for review after landing, enabling your Incident Management Team (IMT) and regulators to make informed, timely decisions that drive resource optimisation.

Rapid mobilisation

The aircraft are maintained in a constant state of readiness, enabling mobilisation within four hours from callout to take-off.

Advanced detection technology

Fixed MWIR and EO RGB sensors provide detailed, high-fidelity imagery that supports early spill verification and operational planning.

Regional surveillance capability

The service offers comprehensive surveillance across a vast coastal stretch of West Africa, delivering a critical regional capability.

WASP FAQs

: No, the current aircraft are not configured for dispersant application. WASP is focused on surveillance and detection only.
: Each flight collects imagery using Medium Wave Infra-Red (MWIR) and Electro-Optical (EO) Red Green Blue (RGB) sensors. This supports oil detection and helps verify and assess the extent of a spill.
: The aircraft are held at a four-hour wheels-up readiness state, supporting rapid deployment when required.
: WASP currently provides regional coverage across the West African coastline, from Mauritania to South Africa, extending 150 miles offshore.

Aerial surveillance remains one of the foundations of an effective spill response.

This informative field guide is designed to provides practical guidance on conducting aerial surveillance missions. Guiding on how to locate, assess, and quantify oil spills from the air to support effective response decisions.

Download Aerial Surveillance Field Guide

Why Choose OSRL?

With aerial surveillance playing a vital role in early oil spill detection, the WASP service enhances monitoring capability for our members operating in West Africa.

WASP offers not only technological capability but also a deep understanding of local geography and operational logistics. We’ve worked closely with regional aviation specialists to provide a tailored and resilient platform. With experience supporting complex incidents and established relationships within West African regulatory frameworks, OSRL is well placed to deliver this valuable regional service.

Who We Are

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Article

Satellite Imagery: A Valuable Tool For Oil Spill Surveillance and Monitoring

In this article, Global Aviation Manager, Shane Jacobs, explores satellite imagery as a valuable tool for surveillance and monitoring of oil spills.

08 Aug, 2023
3 min read
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Recorded Seminar

TPR Seminar Series - Part Two: Surveillance, Modelling and Visualisation

This second session sees Simon McCosh and Simon Blean, explain the importance of situational awareness in a response.

09 Mar, 2022
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Recorded Seminar

ATSEA-2 Webinar Series - Part 2: SMV & Response Strategies

This second webinar with ATSEA-2 focuses on surveillance, modelling and visualisation and the different response strategies available.

28 Feb, 2022
120 min watch
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Asia Pacific

+65 6266 1566

Americas

+1 954 983 9880

West Africa Surveillance Program (WASP)