Marine pollution drills held

October 28, 2020
Pollution prevention
Pollution prevention:

An oil combat team deploys floating booms as a barrier to prevent a simulated spill from spreading.

Various government departments held annual joint exercises off Pearl Island, Tuen Mun today to test their marine pollution response in the event of an oil or hazardous and noxious substances spill in Hong Kong waters.

 

In the test scenario, an oil tanker collided with a container vessel, leading to oil spilling from the tanker and five containers loaded with ethanol falling overboard.

 

An oil spill response team arrived at the scene and cleaned the oil off the sea surface.

 

The Fire Services Department and other response groups were also tasked at the scene to contain and handle the probable spilled ethanol as necessary to prevent threats to the nearby environment and facilities.

 

After the simulated oil spill, the tanker anchored to the south of Pearl Island and a salvage team transferred the fuel from the damaged tank and patched up the leak to stop further oil spillage at the source.

 

An oil combat team deployed floating barrier booms around the oil tanker and in the vicinity to prevent the spill from spreading.

 

The exercise also simulated the spraying of oil dispersant with water from pollution control vessels and a Government Flying Service helicopter onto oil on the sea surface as well as the use of oil skimmers and other equipment.

 

In combating the simulated hazardous and noxious substance spill, the response groups lifted the damaged containers from the sea to stop the pollution at source.

 

The joint response exercises were co-ordinated by the Marine Department and the Environmental Protection Department.

 

The Fire Services Department, Government Flying Service, Police, Government Laboratory, Civil Aid Service as well as several oil companies and a pollution control company took part in the drill.

Back to top