Marine Oil Spill Exercise Rescheduled at Napier Port

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has rescheduled its annual marine oil spill exercise in and beside Napier Port for Wednesday 1 October 2014. The exercise was delayed after poor weather conditions in early September.

Under the Maritime Transport Act, HBRC is required to respond to oil spills that occur within the coastal marine area in Hawke’s Bay, and is required to run exercises every year. The aim of Wednesday’s exercise will be to test the equipment in the shallower water of Sandy Beach on Breakwater Road on the edge of the Port entrance.

HBRC Regional On-Scene Commander Ian Lilburn says this week’s exercise will focus on deploying and training the team on the use of various pieces of oil spill equipment, like skimmers used to collect oil, as well as practicing containment of a spill.

The scenario for the exercise involves trying to contain a large amount of diesel spilt in the water after an accident. As this is an exercise, there will be no oil in the water, but the public will see oil spill equipment being used including booms, skimmers and frame tanks.

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