SINGAPORE, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Singapore conducted a multi-agency Joint Oil Spill Exercise (JOSE) here Friday to test its abilities to respond to oil spills at sea.
More than 250 personnel from 26 agencies participated in JOSE 2018, which was led by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore and comprised a table-top exercise at the MPA's Port Operations Control Centre and a seaward deployment exercise scenario near the Raffles Lighthouse, which is located at the western entrance of Singapore Straits.
The scenario involved a simulated collision between two tanker vessels, which led to the damage of one tanker vessel and the spillover of about 10,000 metric tonnes of oil. There was also an injured crew member needed to be rescued from the damaged tanker vessel.
The spill response teams deployed oil containment booms, a C-130 aircraft spraying dispersants and 10 oil spill response crafts, and demonstrated the recovery of the spilled oil by an innovative "Giant Octopus" skimmer system.
According to MPA's Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) Muhammad Segar, "Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports. Ensuring we have the means and ability to respond to any contingencies, including oil spills, is key."
JOSE 2018 was conducted as part of the 20th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition 2018, and some 60 delegates from the exhibition as well as officers from the participating agencies observed the exercise.