Environment Southland led an exercise to test its response to an oil spill along the Southland coastline.
The trained oil spill response team members were faced with a charter boat capsize and oil spill scenario at the mouth of the Riverton Harbour.
Environment Southland regional harbourmaster and maritime manager Lyndon Cleaver said to prepare for such situations, the organisation tested its trained staff with two exercises per year to ensure the team was prepared and resources and skills were up to the required Maritime New Zealand standards.
"In this scenario, we put our team through their paces to manage a charter boat capsize and marine lube oil leak along North Beach and Taramea Bay."
During the exercise, staff were tasked with making plans and deploying oil spill response equipment.
"Everything is taken into consideration. Wind, tide and the weather all have an impact on how we approach responding to an oil spill. Our priorities are to contain the pollution, and look at what needs to be done to protect any marine wildlife or special coastal ecosystems.
"The exercise went well. We successfully deployed booms and skimmers, which are commonly used to manage oil spills to protect sensitive marine waters," he said.
"They provide an important tool for minimising any environmental impact."
— Staff reporter
