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22 public officers & partners participate in multi-agency oil spill exercise

The training was facilitated by UK Maritime Coastguard Agency’s Head of Counter Pollution and Salvage Stan Woznicki and Environmental Science Lead Neil Chapman and coordinated as part of the Department of Disaster Management’s annual training calendar. Photo: GIS
Twenty-two public officers and partners recently attended a marine pollution training and tabletop exercise designed to test and strengthen the Virgin Islands Oil Spill Contingency Plan. Photo: GIS
Twenty-two public officers and partners recently attended a marine pollution training and tabletop exercise designed to test and strengthen the Virgin Islands Oil Spill Contingency Plan. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Twenty-two public officers and partners recently attended a marine pollution training and tabletop exercise designed to test and strengthen the Virgin Islands Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

Director of Disaster Management Mr Jasen H. Penn, according to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) on February 7, 2024, said the training exercise allowed Virgin Islands responders to work together and talk through how they would coordinate, prioritise, and execute and complex marine response.

Mr Penn said, “These officers and our partners from outside government are very well versed in their specialties, but this training and exercise gave them the opportunity to review our national oil spill plan as a team and identify the gaps that exist.”

The director added, “This type of ongoing training helps ensure that our plans and procedures keep pace with best practices for marine pollution response.”

Understanding risks

Participants have gained knowledge on international best practise when it comes to marine pollution management, including an understanding of the various risks associated with different types of pollutants.

The tabletop exercise challenged participants to consider how they would respond to a complex at-sea incident that included a search and rescue element, multiple pollutant types, and the need to request resources from external sources.

The training was facilitated by UK Maritime Coastguard Agency’s Head of Counter Pollution and Salvage Stan Woznicki and Environmental Science Lead Neil Chapman and coordinated as part of the Department of Disaster Management’s annual training calendar.

Participants included relevant responders from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, BVI Airports Authority, BVI Ports Authority, BVI Fire and Rescue Services, Department of Disaster Management, Department of Waste Management, His Majesty’s Customs, Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, Delta Petroleum, and SOL.

Regular testing of the Virgin Islands Oil Spill Contingency Plan ensures that the Territory remains in compliance with the International Maritime Organisation’s International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC).

2 Responses to “22 public officers & partners participate in multi-agency oil spill exercise”

  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (08/02/2024, 13:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The truth is that we here in the BVI don't have any serious oil spill in our water, some gallons here and at best. But to the contrary, every yellow seaweed comes to our shores. Some get trapped in areas of marine harbor, and after weeks of not been causes a foul stinch.and costly hazard to our tourist outreach ongoing process.

    That doesn't mean that the Topic Issue should be prepared for, but the yearly yellow seaweed problem needs more attention than has been given, especially in the mornings harbors,

  • oil (08/02/2024, 17:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oil spill?people who take on responsibility for things that happen every 10 year should look into or roads and high cost of living that going on everyday,we don't have oil rig here in the vi,if a boat loose oil that happen by accident,high cost of living happen by intention,mark give away two car values almost 30+ thousand,don't you think he could have reduced some price on items that everyone could benefit,but no he give to one person,that's how selfish these politicians are in the bvi,give all the contracts to one person.


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