Oil Spill Exercise in Napier Harbour

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will be undertaking its annual marine oil spill exercise in Napier’s Inner Harbour next Tuesday (Tuesday, 28 April 2015).

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 this week’s exercise will be to test response options for protecting the Ahuriri Estuary and Inner Harbour.

Oil spill equipment, such as booms, and recovery system equipment, including skimmers, will be used during the exercise at the Inner Harbour near the Coastguard Headquarters.

HBRC Regional On-Scene Commander Ian Lilburn says the oil spill exercise will focus on deploying equipment as well as setting up decontamination zones.

The scenario for the exercise involves a significant diesel spill in the Inner Harbour, with an incoming tide. The estuary area is regarded as a key environmental site to be protected in the event of an oil or diesel spill.

As this is an exercise, there will be no diesel in the water, but the public will see oil spill equipment being used including booms, skimmers and frame tanks.

ENDS

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