Uk MCA begins counter pollution exercise

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are conducting a counter pollution exercise, Exercise Bittern, aimed to demonstrate performance of participating personnel.

The exercise is intended to validate Maritime and Coastguard Agency Marine Response Centre’s (MRC) functionality along with elements of the shoreline response mechanisms triggered and managed by the Suffolk County Authorities.

During the drill, the National Contingency Plan components will practise and re-validate to co-ordinate with locally held interfacing plans by testing the response to a marine oil spill off the Suffolk coast.

About 80 personnel will demonstrate and validate their planning, control and co-ordination aspects of oil spill response across the at-sea and shoreline area of responsibility.

Counter Pollution and Salvage Head Stan Woznicki said, "The UKs maritime safety and environmental regulatory regime is one of the most robust in the world and its record is strong."

"Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency and it is right that we continue to test our response capability across a range of scenarios."

The local authority responders will also have the opportunity to see firsthand the national resources needed to respond and counter an oil spill offshore.