Oil pollution response team shows off its skills

An `oil spill` near the Rinella tank cleaning farm at Kalkara was quickly and efficiently cleared by the oil pollution response module yesterday during a training exercise, held in the presence of Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

The `oil`, which was actually biodegradable bark, was first sprayed with a chemical "dispersant" (water) to break it up into smaller stretches.

Booms were then set up to stop the oil from spreading, after which skimmer machines were used to pump it up. The oil could also be removed manually.

Module head Tony Mallia said the unit was capable of fighting spills of up to 1,000 tonnes. In the event of larger spills, the assistance of the civil protection department and the regional marine pollution emergency response centre, set up in Malta through the Mediterranean Action Plan, would be requested.

There are an average of 52 spills annually in Malta, ranging from half a tonne to a 110 tonne spill in 1998.

The most recent spill was of 10 tonnes at Marsa. It took the module three days to clean up at a cost of between Lm6,000 and Lm7,000.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the module was set up in 1992 to combat oil spills and train personnel from different entities in the use of specialised equipment.

The module has three seacraft vessels at its disposal: the Ambjent, the Monka and the Pupilla.