Porbandar: In accordance with the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP), the Coast Guard District HQs Number 1, Porbandar conducted the district level Pollution Response Workshop and Mock Drill – 2021 from 09 February to 10 February 2021 at Porbandar. The same was conducted to revalidate the response mechanism for oil pollution incidents and enable the Indian Coast Guard to fine tune the Regional and National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.

The Workshop was inaugurated by DIG SK Verghese, Commander, District HQs Number 1 (Gujarat). The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner (Customs), Porbandar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Jamnagar, Port Officers from Gujarat Maritime Board and other non-major ports, officials from Petrochemical industries and other stakeholders. The workshop was conducted in two phases. Phase-I comprised of Table-top Exercise simulating oil spill while practical demonstration of oil spill equipment onboard by ICGS Samudra Pavak for containment and recovery of oil spill was covered in second phase.

During phase-I, various lectures and presentations were conducted by Indian Coast Guard and stakeholders followed by table top exercise of oil spill by oil tanker off Porbandar wherein Tier-I oil spill of 700 tons was reported to be spreading to Porbandar coast. Participants were exercised to take actions wherein the efficacy of all stakeholders including the coastal state, port facility and district administration in case of oil spill contingency was ascertained.

During Phase-II, Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pavak demonstrated the operation of ocean/river booms, side sweeping arms, skimmers & spill spray arm and its capability in containment, recovery and stoppage of oil spill.