Marine 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 tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 May 2014).

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 beside the Hawke’s Bay Sports Fishing Club.

HBRC Regional On-Scene Commander Ian Lilburn says, “Tomorrow’s oil spill exercise will focus on deploying equipment as well as setting up decontamination zones and practising environmental risk assessments with key wildlife response and science staff.”

The scenario for the exercise involves a boat which has run aground at the entrance to the Inner Harbour in heavy morning fog.

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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