[ 08 MARCH, 2009 ]

QATAR PETROLEUM USE SWIRE VESSEL FOR A MAJOR OIL SPILL TRAINING EXERCISE

On March 8th, 2009 the Swire Pacific Offshore vessel Wira Keris was employed by the Qatar Petroleum (QP)as the primary vessel in a major oil spill exercise offshore of Ras Laffan, (45 minutes north of Doha). The Vice President of LSES James Thornborough joined the nine crew of the Wera Keris for a full day deployment involving 200m of boom, 1 brush skimmer, 1 floating tank and 1 dispersant spray system. The QP Emergency Response Team of Tony Harmer, Andrew Ray and Bert Backus led the program of events which included a safety briefing, equipment familiarization, operation practice, deployment techniques, recovery and return to storage (2 x 10’offshore containers). Senior Officers aboard the Swire Vessel welcomed the practical deployment experience which complements the IMO oil spill response training they receive as standard at the Swire Marine Training Centre in Singapore. Tony Harmer, Head of Emergency Response Logistics for QP explained that regular practical exercises were essential. At the conclusion of the exercise the QP emergency response team took time out of their busy schedule to examine the ‘R’ Class Swire Pacific Offshore vessels which are excellent platforms for oil spill response (open roller steel, large steel deck aft, crane for deploying skimmer, highly maneuverable, recovered oil waste storage, relatively low draft, good height of eye).