Riverton oil spill exercise tests Environment Southland response

Media Release

8 March 2023

Riverton oil spill exercise tests Environment Southland response

Yesterday Environment Southland led an exercise to test its response to an oil spill along the Southland coastline.

The trained oil spill response team members were faced with a charter boat capsize and oil spill scenario at the mouth of the Riverton Harbour.

Environment Southland regional harbourmaster & maritime manager Lyndon Cleaver said to prepare for such situations, we test our trained staff with two exercises per year to ensure our team is prepared and our resources and skills are up to the required Maritime New Zealand standards.

“In this scenario, we put our team through their paces to manage a charter boat capsize and marine lube oil leak along North Beach and Taramea Bay.”

During the exercise, staff were tasked with making plans and deploying booms, skimmers and other oil spill response equipment.

“Everything is taken into consideration. Wind, tide and the weather all have an impact on how we approach responding to an oil spill. Our priorities are to contain the pollution, and look at what needs to be done to protect any marine wildlife or special coastal ecosystems.”

“The exercise went well. We successfully deployed booms and skimmers, which are commonly used to manage oil spills to protect sensitive marine waters,” Lyndon Cleaver said. “They provide an important tool for minimising any environmental impact.”

ENDS

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