Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) successfully conducted recently an hour-long simulated joint Oil Spill Emergency Response Exercise-–AMWAJ 2--at Tanker Berth No 3 in the Emirates Petroleum Products Company (EPPCO) Terminal-1 at Jebel Ali Port.
Ahmed A. Hussain, Chief Executive Officer, EHS, said, “EHS is happy with the success of this significant exercise, which we conducted in order to highlight the importance of formulating and executing oil spill prevention programmes across all water bodies and fronts in order to protect the environment, life, property and businesses from the potential risk of pollution.”
Participants in the emergency drill included PCFC’s EHS Fire and Rescue and the Marine Department of Dubai Ports Authority and Jafza respectively, and EPPCO’s tier-1 spill response team.
“As Dubai’s trading and commercial activities expand, it is imperative that marine and port authorities stay alert to deal with any emergencies that might crop up, and do their utmost to preserve the country’s coastal environment and ecology. This drill has enabled us to test our equipment, system, data and personnel’s swift response and preparedness in fighting emergencies and proves our continued commitment to ensuring safety in all industrial activities. These exercises also contribute on current systems and procedures.” ,Hussain added.
The ‘simulated’ drill was conducted to test the emergency response programmes of various port safety, environment, fire-fighting and other agencies concerned, in protecting the environment through prompt and co-ordinated preventive and control measures, thus reducing the impact of air, land and water pollution.
The ‘live’ onsite exercise dealt with a situation where 125 cubic metres of gas oil overflows for five minutes from an EPPCO vessel being loaded with diesel gas oil from an EPPCO terminal at the tanker berth. The oil spills on to the deck, through the port side of the ship to the sea and into the water from the starboard (shore) side, posing the potential risk of getting ignited from the slightest friction.
That’s when damage control sets in with all PCFC, Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) and Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority departments and personnel engaged in the respective emergency response, such as the port fire brigade, coast guard, marine police, DPA security and civil defence swinging into action, to control the spill and to avert a major fire and pollution catastrophe.
The exercise allowed authorities to test and evaluate DPA’s resources required for controlling oil spills; its incident control structure and functioning, channel traffic control procedures and communications systems. It also sought to test EPPCO’s emergency response programme, its co-ordination with Dubai Ports, the response capability of tier one and two terminals, equipment mobilisation and performance and staff skills.
