The APEC is an intergovernmental forum of 21 member economies around the Pacific Rim. Established in 1989, it has become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. The MMS provides support to the Department of State (DOS) on the Marine Resources Conservation Working Group.

In Singapore, the MMS, U.S. Department of State and the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority conducted an APEC-sponsored workshop on oil spill response and planning on March 24-25, 2004. The workshop was held in conjunction with the International Chemical and Oil Pollution Conference and Exhibition and the Maritime 2004 Singapore Expo on March 22, 23, and 24. The workshop identified state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies available worldwide and encouraged cooperation among the APEC Economies. The proceedings can be found here. (18.5 MB PDF)

October 2000 — The MMS and the U.S. Department of State conducted a workshop in Beijing, China, on Assessing and Maintaining the Integrity of Existing Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities. The workshop was designed to provide practical guidance to address the issues faced by industry and regulatory authorities in dealing with aging offshore oil and gas facilities. It allowed for an exchange of information and experience APEC-wide. Practical and cost-effective solutions were explored with the goal of understanding the programs currently in effect in the region and avoiding duplication of effort.

October 1998 — The MMS, U.S. Department of State, Indonesian Ministry of the Environment, Directorate General of Oil and Gas, Pertamina, Exploration and Production Forum, and the American Petroleum Institute conducted a workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the Decommissioning of Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms. Participants from government, universities, U.S. oil and gas companies, and other industry organizations identified issues and recommended possible measures to ensure the highest degree of responsibility and care in order to balance protection of the environment with safety, health, technological and economic considerations.