DoT partners with Shell to stage oil spill response exercise

The State’s readiness to respond to a large-scale oil spill off the coast will be further enhanced next week as the Department of Transport (DoT) partners with Shell to stage a response exercise.

Shell’s Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility off the Broome coast will provide the scenario for Exercise Browse Challenge - a cross jurisdiction oil spill incident which aims to build relationships with industry and Commonwealth authorities to benefit a real-life response effort by the State.

DoT Maritime Deputy General Manager Ray Buchholz said the exercise would test current processes to ensure a well-coordinated and effective response to an incident – particularly the arrangements for dealing with a large-scale spill by a private operator impacting State and Commonwealth jurisdictions.

“Trained oil spill response personnel from DoT and other State agencies such as the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions will be working with counterparts from Shell and Commonwealth authorities such as National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to simulate a coordinated response,” Mr Buchholz said.

“The exercise presents an opportunity for the participating organisations to measure their individual preparedness and response capabilities as well as their ability to work collectively.
 
“The two-day exercise commencing September 17, 2019, will build on the learnings of a similar event in 2017 which provided participants with a realistic response scenario to an incident off the Ningaloo coast.”

DoT is the State’s lead agency for ensuring an effective response to maritime environmental emergencies.
 
The State is well prepared to respond to major maritime environmental emergencies and exercises such as this provide a valuable opportunity to enhance response arrangements.
 
Approximately 110 people from up to 15 organisations will be involved in what is a significant opportunity to boost skills and hone the State’s plans for dealing with a major spill.

For further information about maritime environmental emergency response arrangements in WA, visit the DoT website. 

Media Contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au