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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) organized a full deployment, multi-agency joint oil spill exercise (JOSE), code-named 'JOSE 2014', on Friday, 17 October 2014, to test and demonstrate Singapore's readiness to respond to oil spills at sea. The exercise was held in conjunction with the Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2014), hosted by the MPA.

Comprising a table-top exercise at Port Operations Control Centre Vista and a seaward exercise off Pulau Bukom about 9 kilometres from Harbourfront, some 180 personnel from various agencies participated in the exercise.

JOSE 2014 involved a scenario where a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) 'Blue Moon' was discharging oil at Shell Bukom Single-Buoy Mooring (SBM) when one of the sub-sea hoses located at the SBM ruptured. About 6000 tonnes of light crude oil was spilled into the sea causing potential threat to the environment. The Master of the VLCC immediately reported the incident to MPA and requested for assistance.

The spill response teams demonstrated the deployment of equipment such as oil containment booms around the VLCC and the SBM to prevent further escape of the oil, as well as the recovery of oil by specialised skimmers. In addition to the 16 anti-pollution craft, MPA also deployed an aircraft fitted with aerial dispersant spraying system to combat the spill.

Commenting on the exercise, Andrew Tan, Chief Executive, MPA said: "As the world's top bunkering port and a major oil refining centre, it is important for Singapore to remain vigilant and prepared in the event of a marine pollution incident. The exercise today not only allows us to test our inter-agency response but also to share the best practices in managing a spill with the international and local maritime community."

The exercise was also observed by international participants of SIBCON 2014, held from October 14-17.

A list of the JOSE exercise participants has been included below.

At seaward location:

1. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
2. Shell Eastern Petroleum Private Limited
3. Sinanju Tankers Private Limited
4. ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Private Limited
5. Police Coast Guard
6. Singapore Petroleum Company Limited
7. VOPAK Sebarok Terminal
8. PB Tankers Limited (Tankstore)
9. Singapore Oil Spill Response Centre (SOSRC)
10. Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL)
11. Singapore Salvage Engineers Private Limited

At POCC-Vista:

1. National Environment Agency (NEA)
2. PUB, The National Water Agency
3. Singapore Police Force (SPF)
4. Police Coast Guard
5. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
6. Ministry of Health
7. Singapore Civil Defence Force
8. Ministry of Defence
9. Republic of Singapore Navy
10. Singapore Land Authority
11. Jurong Town Corporation
12. Sentosa Development Corporation
13. National Parks Board
14. Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

Image: JOSE 2014

For more images of the event, please visit Bunker Index's Twitter page at twitter.com/bunkerindex.