The Malta Maritime Authority has successfully conducted an oil recovery response exercise at sea, 3.5 nautical miles off Valletta Harbour. It was made possible through the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) with Tankship Management, owners of the oil recovery response vessel Mistra Bay that was contracted to EMSA.

The exercise was carried out on Friday in a joint exercise with the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Police, the Oil Pollution Response Module, Tankship Management Ltd, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Fisheries Department and REMPEC.

Malta Maritime Authority harbour master Richard Gabriele was chief coordinator.

Capt Gabriele expressed satisfaction at the successful outcome of the exercise. “The first call was initiated at 6am and two tug boats towed a 500m-long boom forming an open “U” with chain connections at the apex, funnelling into the sweeping arms of the MV Mistra Bay. The vessel had full direct control of any vessel connected to her and the two tugs were directly operating under the control of the Mistra Bay. Representa-tives of all entities oversaw the whole operation from the Emergency Control Centre (ECC) stationed at the Malta Maritime Authority Maritime Trade Centre to direct respective personnel in operation,” he said.

EMSA official Leszek Szymanski noted how well-prepared and conducted this first joint Malta-EMSA exercise had been. “Through good coordination and clear communications, this exercise ran smoothly and effectively, with all units on site working well in a professional manner,” he said.

It is expected that a debriefing meeting to discuss further details of the outcome of the exercise will be held in the next few days.