The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) hosted a first of its kind on-water and aerial spill response demonstration today at the International Oil Spill Conference in Savannah, Ga.
BSEE Deputy Director Margaret Schneider was on hand to open the demonstration where she told attendees that BSEE is dedicated to championing exercises such as this and research to improve offshore spill prevention and response capabilities.
The 45-minute demonstration was held on the Savannah River in front of the Convention Center. A remote oil detection device initiated an oil spill alert message with spill coordinates to the exercise Responsible Party, spill management team, identified oil spill response organizations, and Coast Guard in addition to conference attendees who signed up to receive messages.
Surface oil spill response vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles and submersible response equipment all combined in a joint response effort to assess the scenario. The entire response demonstration was managed in a mobile command center and broadcast via a live feed to conference participants.
BSEE Deputy Director Margaret Schneider and NOAA Director Office of Response and Restoration David Westerholm monitor the progress of the on-water and aerial response demonstration at the International Oil Spill Conference.