Southland oil spill response team members skills were tested yesterday (7 Mar) when they faced a mock charter boat capsize and oil spill at the mouth of the Riverton Harbour.

The simulation, part of a planned exercise by Environment Southland (ES), was to test the teams response to a real-life oil spill along the Southland coastline.

ES regional harbourmaster & maritime manager Lyndon Cleaver said staff were tested twice a year to ensure resources and team skills were are up to the required Maritime New Zealand standards.

“In this scenario, we put our team through their paces to manage a charter boat capsize and marine lube oil leak along North Beach and Taramea Bay,” Cleaver said.

During the exercise, staff were tasked with making plans and deploying booms, skimmers and other oil spill response equipment.

“Everything is taken into consideration. Wind, tide and the weather all have an impact on how we approach responding to an oil spill."

"Our priorities are to contain the pollution, and look at what needs to be done to protect any marine wildlife or special coastal ecosystems.”

Cleaver said the exercise had gone well.

"We successfully deployed booms and skimmers, which are commonly used to manage oil spills to protect sensitive marine waters."

“They provide an important tool for minimising any environmental impact,” he said.