This week we are performing a live on-the-water exercise (11th to 14th June) to train our response teams and develop our operational capabilities. The live on-the-water exercise simulates an oil spill incident to test response equipment and instructs personnel on good-practice procedures.
It will take place over four days southwest of the Isle of Wight and along the Solent and involve several specialist vessels out on the water, as well as a Boeing 727 aircraft adapted with internal tanks, pumps, and spray booms flying alongside a dedicated surveillance aircraft. Partner 2Excel Aviation will operate the Boeing 727 and the surveillance aircraft.
The event will involve the Boeing 727 flying at a low level and depositing a small amount of a harmless fluorescein dye into the water to act as a simulated oil spill. The OSRL vessels will then perform the relevant training activities and use the 727 to spray water over the target area, simulating the application of a specialist oil spill dispersant.
We are also collaborating with different Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) suppliers during the exercise to explore the use of AUVs to monitor dispersant effectiveness outputs. This approach underscores our commitment to innovation in oil spill response techniques.
Commenting on the exercise, Paul Foley, Europe Regional Manager, said: “As the world’s largest dedicated oil spill response organisation, we constantly need to train our teams and validate current good-practice methodologies. Exercises like these are complex and challenging, but they are also essential to ensuring we're best able to minimise impacts on the marine environment and communities should an incident occur. Residents can be assured that no oil or dispersants are being used, and there will be no impact on the coastline or local marine life from any of our activities this week” .”
Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) is the largest international industry-funded spill-response cooperative, dedicated to responding to oil spills, wherever in the world they may occur. OSRL provides preparedness, response and intervention services and is wholly owned by the most environmentally responsible oil and gas companies around the globe. OSRL currently employs 275 people across 13 locations and is headquartered in Southampton, UK.