The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be conducting a chemical spill exercise on 23 May 2000 (Tuesday) from 0830hrs to 1300hrs.

Code named "CHEMSPILL 2000", this exercise will involve more than 100 personnel from the MPA, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Ministry of the Environment (ENV), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Police Coast Guard (PCG). Other participating organisations include PSA Corporation, Keppel-Smit, Wijsmuller-Perdana, Petroships, Pandisea, OSM Services, SGS Redwood and Vopak Terminals.

It will comprise a table-top exercise held at the MPA's Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) at PSA Vista, and a land and seaward operation for tackling a major chemical spill of Methanol off Jurong Island.

"CHEMSPILL 2000" aims to test the co-ordination, communication links and readiness of the government agencies and external parties responsible in managing a vessel-related chemical spill. It will help the participating agencies understand and execute their roles and the procedures as drawn up in the MPA's Chemical Contingency Plan (Marine), a supplement to the Marine Emergency Action Procedure (MEAP). Upon activation, response actions from the agencies will cover the deployment of resources, manpower and technical expertise in areas of pollution abatement, environmental monitoring, evacuation, clean-up and disposal, and medical support.

End of Release.