News

A practical training exercise on response actions in the event of a spill of polluting substances in the port waters was held at the Odesa Sea Port Authority. The exercise was organized by the Environmental Safety Department of the Odesa Branch of the SE “USPA” in accordance with the Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

According to the scenario, a simulated fuel leak occurred from the tugboat “Truzhenik” while it was moored at one of the berths in the Practical Harbor. The crews of the oil-skimmer vessel NMS-505-12 and MNMS-51, as well as the Port Water Area Cleanup Team, were promptly deployed to eliminate the consequences of the simulated incident.

Participants practiced the full response algorithm — from receiving the spill notification to carrying out all necessary containment measures.

The crews of the oil recovery vessels performed the mandatory procedures required before the collection of pollutants: they checked the readiness of the receiving tanks, measured the volume of the collected oil-water mixture, and practiced maintaining the accompanying documentation and recording the completed operations.

Particular attention was paid to the response procedures of the Port Water Area Cleaning Team. During the exercise, the team rehearsed measures to contain the simulated spill in accordance with the current Instruction on Routine Booming Operations and Emergency Closure of the Exits from the Port of Odesa Water Area. By deploying floating containment booms to isolate the affected area, responders can effectively prevent the spread of pollutants and maintain the required level of environmental protection within the port waters.

Similar practical drills are conducted on a regular basis, as continuous improvement of skills and effective coordination among all services are key to ensuring a prompt and efficient response to potential emergencies and maintaining the environmental safety of the Port of Odesa Water Area.