Straits Times 5 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE - A mock collision and oil spill was staged in Singapore waters near Pulau Semakau in a response exercise on Friday (Oct 5).
More than 250 people from 26 agencies were involved in the exercise led by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) - the lead agency for maritime emergencies.
An "octopus" skimmer system was deployed for the first time in the biennial exercise, which allows oil to be collected more effectively using brushes that run in multiple directions. A conventional oil skimmer collects oil from one direction.
The spill response teams also used equipment such as oil containment booms, and sprayed dispersants from a C-130 aircraft, while a Police Coast Guard patrol craft carried out cordon duty.
Captain M. Segar, assistant chief executive (operations) at MPA, said that as Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports, ensuring it has the means and ability to respond to any contingencies, including oil spills, is important.
"Today's exercise not only allows us to test our inter-agency responses but also to share best practices and test new technologies in combating oil spills," he added.
The teams responded as if a collision between two tanker vessels, one of which sustained damage to its two cargo oil tanks, caused a spillage of about 10,000 metric tonnes of oil.
A skimmer system extracting 'oil' during a simulation exercise in Singapore waters near Pulau Semakau. PHOTO: MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
The scenario also called for an immediate evacuation of an injured crew member on board the damaged tanker vessel by a Singapore Civil Defence Force Marine Fire Vessel.
Concurrently, a table-top exercise was held at MPA's Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista near Haw Paw Villa.
Participants discussed operational and policy measures to deal with a major oil spill in Singapore waters.
Friday's exercise marked the end of the 20th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition 2018, which began on Wednesday.
'Octopus' takes part in oil spill exercise
Skimmer system deployed for 1st time in biennial drill led by MPA
Lim Min Zhang Straits Times 6 Oct 18;
More than 250 people from 26 agencies took part in a maritime exercise yesterday that included the staging of a mock collision with oil spill in the waters off Pulau Semakau.
The exercise was to share best practices as well as test inter-agency responses and new technologies in combating oil spills, said Captain M. Segar, assistant chief executive (operations) at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), which led the effort.
An "octopus" skimmer system was deployed for the first time in the biennial exercise.
Unlike a conventional oil skimmer which collects oil from one direction, the "octopus" allows oil to be collected more effectively by using brushes that run in multiple directions.
The spill response teams also used equipment such as oil containment booms and sprayed dispersants from a C-130 aircraft, while a Police Coast Guard patrol craft carried out cordon duty.
As Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports, ensuring it has the means and ability to respond to any contingencies, including oil spills, is important, said Captain Segar.
TESTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Today's exercise not only allows us to test our inter-agency responses but also to share best practices and test new technologies in combating oil spills.
CAPTAIN M. SEGAR, MPA's assistant chief executive (operations), on the exercise involving over 250 people from 26 agencies
MPA is Singapore's lead agency in dealing with maritime emergencies.
During yesterday's exercise, the various teams responded as if there was a collision between two tanker vessels. The scenario assumed that two cargo oil tanks on board one of them was damaged and led to a spillage of about 10,000 metric tonnes of oil.
The scenario also required the immediate evacuation of an "injured" crew member on board the damaged tanker, by a Singapore Civil Defence Force Marine Fire Vessel.
Concurrently, a table-top exercise was held at MPA's Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista near Haw Paw Villa. Participants discussed operational and policy measures to deal with a major oil spill in Singapore waters.
The exercise marked the end of the 20th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition 2018, which began on Wednesday.
