Oil spill response exercise

For immediate release: Tuesday 27 May 2008

Environment Bay of Plenty staff improved their oil spill response skills as part of an exercise in Tauranga today.

The exercise involved assessing, monitoring and communicating a potential spill on Tauranga harbour.

The team then identified areas at risk of contamination if an oil spill occurs and discussed the best way to respond to protect sensitive sites. They looked at the timing of tides, weather, natural features nearby and discussed the types of booms and other oil collecting equipment they could use.

An operation team then inflated two red booms - one near the marina and one near the Sanford wharves to recover oil in the event of a spill. A skimmer machine was also put into the water. This equipment can remove oil by skimming the surface of the water.

Environment Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Carl Magazinovic said the exercise went very smoothly and everyone in the team made an important contribution.

"Holding these practical exercises gives us an opportunity to practise the skills we've learned and also apply them to our local environment," Mr Magazinovic said.

The oil response team consists of staff from Environment Bay of Plenty, Port of Tauranga, Maritime New Zealand, and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management, who carry out regular training exercises together.

ENDS

© Scoop Media