OSRL recently travelled to Antalya, Turkey to conduct a published Aerial Surveillance Course and IMO 2 Clearance Course in collaboration with MOST Maritime and Environmental Service Company (Turkey). The courses were delivered by Jonathan Cook and myself Tim Coombs, with support from MOST.
While the Aerial Surveillance Course was delivered an equipment review was carried out to access the plan for the practical deployment using MOST equipment, it was decided that an Offshore Deployment was the best option for delegates to get the most out of the exercise.
The four days IMO 2 Clearance course was delivered using the vessels and equipment from MOST and with the technical presentations being held in the Portobello Hotel.
The course delegates were very engaging and enjoyed the interactive elements of the course, and were always keen to express their views and ask questions. The course was simultaneously translated, with help from two excellent translators and an equipment technician. Their contribution enabled the course to run smoothly.
The practical deployment exercise went well, with the joint effort of OSRL and MOST. An Offshore Deployment was carried out using two vessels from MOST putting out about 150 meters of air inflation boom and then getting the vessels into a “J” formation.
The courses went well with good feedback from the delegates and from Turkish Government observers, who expressed their desire to work with OSRL as they are developing an Oil Spill Centre in Istanbul.
