Major oil spill exercise off Aberdeen 'prepares for the worst'

The training exercise to combat the risk of contamination at sea is being held off Aberdeen

A major training exercise to prepare for a worst-case scenario oil spill is being held off Aberdeen.

The three-day counter-pollution training is being led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and is described as its biggest such rehearsal of 2023.

A flyover of a plane practicing surveillance is part of the air and sea exercise.

No real oil or real dispersant spray is be used during the operation.

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Among the kit being deployed are booms to limit the spread of pollutant and equipment known as skimmers to suck it up, as well as storage equipment to hold it ready for disposal.

Equipment to limit the spread of pollution is being tested

The Braer disaster

What is regarded as the worst environmental incident off Scotland happened in 1993.

The Braer oil tanker ran aground off Shetland in hurricane-force winds, spilling almost 85,000 tonnes of crude oil.

The Braer ran aground off Shetland in 1993

The captain and crew were airlifted to safety by helicopter after its engines failed and it became clear the disaster was imminent.

According to WWF Scotland, at least 1,500 birds died and up to a quarter of the local grey seal population was affected.

However, the weather limited the full extent of the damage as much of the oil was swept out to sea.

MCA chief executive Virginia McVea has been on the water assessing this week's operation off Aberdeen.

She said "honing our capability and spotting any gaps" was the aim.

Virginia McVea said the UK was well prepared

"The exercise is a clear demonstration of how well prepared we are as a country to protect our offshore habitats, coastline, economy and communities from pollution at sea," she said.

The MCA regularly trains across the UK to prepare for contamination incidents.

The MCA's head of counter pollution and salvage, Stan Woznicki, said: "Major training exercises such as these are key components of a wider training programme as they familiarise the teams with the considerable size and complexity of the response equipment, as well as the number and diversity of the personnel needed to deliver an effective response.

"Where delivery of response must be delivered quickly, this experience is crucial."

Representatives from Port of Aberdeen, the Marine Directorate of the Scottish government and other oil spill response organisations from across the UK are among those involved.