Damage control: Response groups control a mock oil spill off Lantau.

A major 'oil spill' has been cleaned up in waters off Luk Keng Bay, north of Lantau Island.

Today's drill was part of the Marine Department's annual anti-oil pollution exercise to test the response and efficiency of various Government departments and oil companies in combating spills.

The drill validates key functions and demonstrates individual and team knowledge, skills and capabilities. Simulation of crisis management and communication also helps the parties understand how the incident command system will operate during a major spill.

Beach spill

The exercise involved a mock bulk carrier running aground at Luk Keng Bay with about 150 tons of heavy fuel oil spilling into the sea, resulting in an oil patch of about 1,500 square metres on the beach.

The drill was divided into six parts demonstrating the various techniques and stages in combating pills, including deployment of oil containment booms, oil recovery by skimmers, spraying of oil dispersant by launches and by helicopter, shore-sealing boom, shoreline clean-up and recovery of booms and equipment.

The Civil Aid Service, Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, Government Flying Service, Police, Agricultural, Fisheries & Conservation Department, China Resources Petrochems (Groups), ExxonMobil, Shell, Caltex and Hong Kong Response took part.

As a prelude to the drill, a desktop exercise to test the communication capabilities and co-ordination among the participating units was conducted on October 20.