Pollution Oil Spill Exercise Underway

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s oil spill response team is in action at the entrance to Napier Inner Harbour this morning (Thursday 25 March).

Staff are testing a pre-planned response and communications.   The Council team is working with Maritime NZ marine pollution response team, Coastguard and the Port of Napier to action a response to a supposed “oil spill” off Pania Reef.

The personnel involved in the spill are testing the set up of a response centre, communication links and deployment of oil spill cleanup equipment. 

Oil control booms will be used around the entrance, and there may be short delays for boat traffic, but the entrance will remain open.

“Staff today are particularly testing the deployment of oil spill cleanup equipment and aerial oil dispersants to stop oil reaching the inner harbour and shore,” said Mr Lilburn on scene commander for the exercise.

Key objectives of the exercise are to avoid having the spill reach the inner harbour and shore where it could have an impact on wildlife and be harder to clean up.

The last exercise in the inner harbour was in late November.  This resulted in minor changes to a scenario to ensure the safety of staff and the efficient handling of any waste oil in a real event.