LONDON: AN oil spill response training exercise took place this morning at the Port of Mackay, demonstrating how North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) would coordinate a response in the unlikely event of an incident occurring. NQBP chief executive officer Steve Lewis said it was essential for NQBP officers to be well-drilled in their important role as first responder to any potential oil spill situation. “Protecting the environment is something we take very seriously,” Mr Lewis said.
“We are privileged to have three of our major operations located adjacent to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and we are fully committed to ensuring we are ready to respond immediately.” In the training scenario, NQBP’s First Strike Response Team deployed two specialist booms that are kept on site for response to any potential incident.
With the booms in place to immediately contain the “pollutant” from spreading, the team used a special purpose skimmer to retrieve the substance and pump it to a flexi-dam storage tank. “Ensuring we implement best-practice emergency response in everything we do, is something we gladly do to protect this unique area,” Mr Lewis said.
“Oil spill scenarios are played out regularly by NQBP’s trained and committed First Strike Response Team to ensure all members know their roles thoroughly. “I was particularly pleased that the NQBP directors were able to view today’s exercise as it coincided with their regular Board meeting.”
The scenario involved all of NQBP’s First Strike Response Team, along with Maritime Safety Queensland representatives who demonstrated the use of their Marco Pollutant Retrieval Vessel. As the port authority of the Port of Hay Point, Port of Mackay and Port of Abbot Point, NQBP is responsible for ensuring that an effective first-strike oil spill response capability is maintained within their ports.
