An annual exercise to test the response and efficiency of government departments and oil companies in combating spills has been conducted off Tai Wan To Beach on Lamma Island.

The drill was co-ordinated by the Marine Department and included five other government departments and six oil companies.

Oil action: An oil spill drill is conducted off Lama Island, seeing a helicopter and launches spraying dispersant, and the deployment of oil containment booms.

It enabled members of the response organisations to validate key functions and demonstrate individual and team knowledge, skills and capabilities.

The simulation of crisis management and communication helped refresh their understanding on how the incident command system will operate during a major spill.

The exercise saw a mock 2,248-tonne tanker 'run aground' at Ha Mei Wan with about 200 tonnes of heavy fuel oil spilling into the sea at 40 tonnes an hour.

The drill covered deployment of containment booms, oil recovery by skimmers, spraying of dispersant by launches and helicopter, shore-sealing boom, shoreline clean-up and recovery of equipment.