The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be conducting its annual joint oil spill exercise codenamed JOSE 2004, together with Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd. The exercise will be held on 24 Mar 2004 (Wed) from 1300hrs to 1700hrs at Shell's Single Buoy Mooring (SBM), about one nautical mile (2km) southwest of Pulau Sebarok. This year, the exercise will be conducted in the presence of almost 100 observers from the International Chemical and Oil Pollution Conference and Exhibition (ICOPCE) 2004 and Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in the ASEAN Sea Area (OSPAR) Management Committee Meeting, to be held in Singapore during this week.

As one of the busiest ports in the world for bunkering and oil refining, Singapore has to remain vigilant at all times to ensure maritime safety and prevent marine pollution. JOSE 2004 aims to test the effectiveness of the Marine Emergency Action Procedure (MEAP) and the Oil Spill Contingency Plan. It is essential for MPA, as the lead maritime agency, to ensure the operational readiness and capabilities of its resources as well as those of the supporting agencies in response to a major oil spill.

About 150 personnel from the MPA, Shell, Police Coast Guard (PCG), Agri-Food Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore Petroleum Company Ltd, Caltex Singapore Pte Ltd, Exxonmobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore Refining Company Pte Ltd, VOPAK Terminals Singapore Pte Ltd, Ocean Tankers Pte Ltd, Tankstore, Oil Tanking Singapore Ltd, East Asia Response Pte Ltd, Singapore Oil Spill Response Centre Pte Ltd, Petrochemical Corp of Singapore Pte Ltd and PSA Marine Pte Ltd will be participating in the exercise. The exercise will involve about 27 anti-pollution craft from the MPA and the participating organisations.

Exercise Scenario

A fully laden VLCC 'Oil Carrier' (134,514 GT) is moored to and discharging at the Shell SBM. At 1300hrs, a bulk carrier, MV 'Coal Exporter' (91,606 GT), proceeding westbound to the southeast of the SBM, develops steering gear problems. It then veers to starboard and collides into the VLCC.

The bulk carrier, transiting the Strait of Singapore Traffic Separation Scheme, is in the westbound lane.

The collision causes extensive damage to one of the starboard cargo and slop tanks of the tanker. About 5,000 tonnes of Arabian Medium Crude Oil spills into the sea. The bulk carrier's port bow is severely damaged and anchored just outside the Singapore Port Limit but is clear of the traffic lane. There is no injury or fire on board the vessels and they are in no danger of sinking.

The MPA immediately activates the Marine Emergency Action Procedure (MEAP). The Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) chaired by the Port Master is set up at Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) 2, PSA Vista. Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd, owners/agents for the tanker and its P&I Club representatives are called to the EOC. The neighbouring countries are also notified accordingly and to take the necessary measures to combat the oil pollution.

The necessary resources including about 27 anti-pollution craft, oil booms, dispersants and skimmers to combat the oil pollution at sea are deployed. Radio messages are broadcast to caution vessels in the vicinity of the incident to keep clear.

End of Release.

Attached:

Exercise Location