Canarian Ports has carried out in the Port of Órzola an environmental pollution drill to strengthen the response capacity in the event of a spill in the pontoon area and improve coordination among the different teams involved in the port operation.
The activity, of a training and preventive nature, allowed to review the available inventory, the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the application of the protocols of the Maritime Interior Plan (MIP), with special attention to the safety of people and to the protection of the coast.
Different institutions
Participating in the day were officials from Puertos Canarios, Emerlan (Rescue and Emergency Service in Lanzarote), firefighters from the municipalities of Haría and Arrecife, and from the Majorero municipality of La Oliva, in addition to surveillance and cleaning staff, Civil Protection volunteers and representatives of the port community, as well as invited students and companies supplying containment material, who collaborated in the explanation and demonstration of the equipment.
The drill took place mainly on land and had the support of a single vessel in the water for the closure of the affected area and the transfer of material. To recreate the spill, fresh water with food coloring was used. No polluting substances were used nor was any spill made into the sea.
Development of the drill
• Presentation of the workshops and of the material available in the port.
• Explanatory talk: use of materials, inventory, PPE and PIM.
• Alarm and activation. Spill scenario associated with a vessel sunk at pontoons. Deployment of absorbent boom, cloths and sepiolite; transfer of material and closure of the affected area.
• Collection of the materials used and deposit for their treatment.
• Talk on lessons learned and closing of the activity.
Drone recording for continuous improvement
As a novelty, the exercise was recorded with a drone, which will allow for more precise analysis of the deployment, response times, and operational coordination. The audiovisual material will be incorporated into the internal evaluation and future training actions, with the aim of continuing to improve procedures and team preparation.
Canary Ports will continue promoting this type of drills in different ports of the autonomous network, reinforcing a preventive and environmental respect culture aligned with its strategy of autonomous Ecoports of the Canary Islands.
Canarian Ports is a public business entity attached to the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands; which operates under the name Autonomous Ecoports of the Canary Islands.
