Two annual marine pollution response joint exercises, this year code-named Oilex 2015 and the Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Exercise 2015, were held simultaneously on October 16 at Junk Bay to test local responses in the event of pollution caused by oil spillage and HNS in Hong Kong waters.
During the exercises, response groups contained and cleaned up a mock spill situation that would have posed threats to the local environment and facilities. In the scenario used, a tanker collided with a container vessel. The tanker was found to be leaking fuel oil and later anchored in Junk Bay, while five containers loaded with ammonium nitrate fell from the container vessel into the sea, subsequently drifting into Junk Bay, and leaked ammonium nitrate.
In the wake of the simulated oil spill, oil combat teams used floating barrier booms to encircle the tanker while salvage teams transferred the fuel oil and stopped up the leakage.
Barrier booms were also set up near the tanker to prevent the spill from drifting. The exercise also demonstrated the spraying of oil dispersant from pollution control vessels and a Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopter onto the sea, as well as the use of oil skimmers and other equipment.
Combating the simulated HNS spill, the response teams lifted the damaged containers out of the sea and sprayed seawater on the sea surface to expedite the dissolution and dilution of ammonium nitrate.
Under the Maritime Oil Spill Response Plan, the Marine Department (MD) co-ordinated the oil spill exercise while other government departments, namely the Civil Aid Service, the GFS and the Hong Kong Police Force, also took part. Several oil companies and Hong Kong Response Limited also participated in the exercise.
The HNS spill response exercise was co-organised by the MD and the Environmental Protection Department with participation from the Fire Services Department, the Government Laboratory and the Hong Kong Police Force.
The exercises provided hands-on experience for relevant departments in adopting an emergency response strategy to prevent pollution according to the properties of the substances concerned.
Source: HKSAR Government
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