Multi-agencies Take Part In MPA's Joint Oil Spill Exercise

SINGAPORE, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) organised on Friday a full deployment, multi-agency joint oil spill exercise code-named “JOSE 2012”, to test and demonstrate Singapore’s readiness to respond to oil spills at sea. The exercise was held in conjunction with this year’s Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2012), hosted by MPA. Comprising a table-top exercise at Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista (POCC-Vista) and a demonstration on local oil spill response capability, the objective of JOSE 2012 was to familiarise agencies to the Oil Spill Contingency Plan for combating major oil spills at sea. Two hundred personnel from various agencies participated. MPA chief executive, Captain M Segar said: "Singapore is a premier global hub port with more than 120,000 vessel calls annually. "It is critical that we remain vigilant and maintain operational readiness at all times. "Exercises like JOSE 2012 help to test the various agencies’ readiness and cooperation in combating oil spill, thus ensuring effectiveness in addressing such incidents," he said. JOSE 2012 involved a scenario where a fully laden massive crude carrier (VLCC) collided with an oil tanker at 1.5 nautical miles north-east of Raffles Lighthouse. The collision damaged two cargo tanks of the VLCC and 8,000 tonnes of its Arabian Light Crude spilled into the sea. As a large quantity of oil was spilled and spreading quickly, MPA activated its Oil Spill Contingency Plan and deployed dispersant spraying craft to address the problem. The exercise also demonstrated the deployment of equipment, such as oil containment booms around the stricken tanker to prevent further outflow of the oil. JOSE 2012 was successfully executed and saw close cooperation among MPA, government agencies and industry partners. -- BERNAMA