Posted: 24 May 2006
More than 20 involved in regional 'oil spill'
More than 20 local authority, refinery, tug company, conservation and iwi representatives are to take part in a regional oil spill exercise involving a large, fictional spill next week (Thurs 1 June).
Ian Niblock, Regional Harbourmaster for the Northland Regional Council, says the desktop Thursday 1 June exercise – ‘Exercise Takahi’ - will run for several hours and be based at the Regional Council’s Whangarei headquarters.
Mr Niblock says with the Marsden Pt oil refinery based near Whangarei and the large volume of commercial shipping passing through Northland waters, the region is considered among those most at risk of a medium to large oil spill (more than 50 tonnes).
As a result the region is home to a number of people trained to deal with oil spills and usually holds two or three oil spill exercises annually. However, Mr Niblock says unlike the last exercise – held at the Tutukaka Marina in March – Exercise Takahi would be on paper only and not involve actual deployment of any equipment.
Despite the desktop nature of the exercise, it would still be an extremely valuable learning tool for the 20-plus participants from the Regional Council, Marsden Pt oil refinery, Department of Conservation, North Tugz and Ngatiwai Trust Board.
Mr Niblock says the exact nature of the latest fictional ‘spill’ – including its size – will be kept under wraps until the day of the exercise to keep participants on their toes.
The exercise will run from 9am until about 1.30pm.