Enhance your understanding of spill response requirements within the UKCS and become an effective member of the management involved in responding to an oil spill.
This BEIS-accredited training course is the level of training required for all companies that require to have has access to personnel trained to OPEP Level 4 during an oil spill incident.
Is this course for me?
The BEIS Guidance Notes For Preparing Oil Pollution Emergency Plans states that a company must have access to persons competent to OPEP Level 4 (IMO Level 2 equivalent), in order to advise on the spill response strategy. This course is the required level of training required to fulfil this UK training requirement.
What will I learn?
Over the four days through interactive participation you will receive a comprehensive overview of oil spill response from preparedness activities to applicable spill response techniques. This course outlines the statutory reporting requirements and which relevant UK government agencies you may require to have ongoing communications with.
The course also ensures you gain an understanding of the role of the Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) and the functions of the Operations Control Unit (OCU) and how they could potentially interface with your company and other relevant government agencies.
The course builds awareness of the complexities of strategic and tactical response decision making and provides an understanding of oil spill response in the UKCS. You will learn how to complete a full assessment of an oil spill, the initial response activities and how to identify response priorities and limitations.
This course will give you the knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- Assessing the situation and activating the Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP);
- Developing a spill response strategy;
- Establishment and organisation of a response structure;
- Activation of spill response operations;
- Practical deployment exercises of response equipment;
- Management and control of an ongoing spill response;
- Assisting in the decisions to deactivate a response.
Course programme
Day 1
- UK Legislation and agreements;
- Oil Pollution Emergency Plans (OPEPs);
- Causes and fates of marine oil spills;
- Environmental and economic impacts;
- OSRL base site tour;
- Surveillance, modelling and visualisation;
- Chemical dispersants.
Day 2
- Offshore containment and recovery;
- Hazards to responders;
- Offshore practical deployment exercise.
Day 3
- Shoreline response;
- Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) guest speaker;
- Inland response;
- Shoreline practical deployment exercise.
Day 4
- Waste management;
- Media relations;
- Termination of a spill response;
- Table-top exercise and debrief;
- Assessment of knowledge;
- Feedback.
Course reviews
"The course structure mixes learning activities well to get good engagement and therefore retention."
"Very enjoyable yet educational. Practical experience is extremely valuable."
"Great course - learnt a lot - sufficient detail where necessary. Concise, well-structured and to the point. Good addition of examples & case studies from experience."
