KOC’s Marine Oil Spill Management Team recently organized a mock exercise which simulated a Tier 1 oil spill. This is the first exercise of its kind since the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the suspension of many Company activities, including drills which simulate oil spills that are necessary aspects of the Team’s work.
Under the supervision of Manager Marine Operations Sami Al-Sawagh, KOC decided to conduct the exercise at an internal level in order to abide by official health measures and social distancing protocols. It should be noted that the drill did not include any external parties in order to abide by official preventive measures to protect all Company employees and partners.
The exercise was held two nautical miles east of the North Pier, in the presence of Ag. TL Captain Ahmad Al-Awadhi, where an oil spill equal to the size of two barrels of oil was handled over an area of about 3,000 square meters.
Four ships specialized in combating oil spills participated in the exercise, accompanied by two boats which provided logistical support. The exercise falls within the KOC framework of continuous readiness to face any obstacles that may hinder the work plans of the Marine Operations Group in emergency situations.
It is worth mentioning that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Team organized these types of drills on a monthly basis, in order to ensure the proper functioning of its equipment and tools and to maintain full preparedness.
