RUBiS & Partners Conducting Oil Spill Exercise
RUBiS Energy Bermuda Ltd. announced today [March 2] that they will be conducting a Tier 1 Oil Spill response training exercise in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Regiment on Wednesday March 2nd and Thursday March 3rd, 2016.
A small group of observers from the US Coast Guard, who are on island to conduct meetings and provide advice in relation to the island’s Search and Recovery and general Maritime enforcement capabilities, will also attend the exercise on March 3rd.
Graham Redford, Managing Director of RUBiS explained: “The aim of this exercise is to test all functions of the internal RUBiS Oil Spill Response Management System, along with external testing of the Island’s ability for an appropriate tiered response in the event of an Oil Spill.
“We will be working with Oil Spill Response Ltd [OSRL], a global partner of RUBiS. OSRL is the largest international industry-funded cooperative which exists to respond to oil spills anywhere in the world by providing preparedness, response and intervention services from a number of strategically placed locations. We are also pleased to welcome a number of our RUBiS affiliates from the Caribbean who are flying in to observe the training and exercise.
“As the leader in the local fuel industry, helping protect the environment is a fundamental responsibility of RUBiS, and one we take very seriously. This exercise is part of our continued commitment towards oil spill and emergency response preparedness, and one of the most effective ways of assessing response plans and procedures, determining the readiness of responders, clarifying roles and responsibilities, promoting awareness of potential incidents and preparing for real spill events.
“There will be two days of training; the first day will be on site at our Ferry Reach Depot where we will look at notification exercises to test our response process and mobilisation procedures.
“We will also be conducting table-top exercises designed to test the risk of our operations and allow for analysis of the incident response along with capability reviews of RUBIS’ tactical and emergency management organisation, our personnel capacity and competence, ours and the Island’s tiered response arrangements and a capability review of our training and exercise programmes.”
Matthew Simmons, Operations Manager from OSRL continued: “A robust exercise and drill programme provides RUBiS’ response and emergency management teams with the opportunity to practice skills that will be required in an emergency, to work together closely and develop working relationships with key stakeholders and to make complex decisions. Using a well-designed exercise will test response capabilities including plans, people, equipment and systems.
“This exercise will bring together the key personnel likely to be involved in a real incident, will further develop working relationships and encourage teamwork. Utilising OSRL’s expertise in incident response, we are able to provide exercise and drill development, facilitation, observation and involvement to help test and improve their preparedness and response capability.”
Mr. Redford concluded: “The safety, health and security of everyone we work with is of paramount importance to us, so the equipment deployment exercise that will be held on the March 3rd in the Great Sound will focus on developing all of the stakeholders’ ability to deploy Tier 1 equipment in a safe and effective way. We do ask that the marine public stay a safe distance from the exercises which, dependent on the weather, will be on the southern side of Morgan’s Point.”
