Oil spill exercise successfully completed at Newhaven Port

On Friday, 26 September, Newhaven Port Authority carried out a planned oil spill exercise as part of its Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The operation tested the readiness of the port’s response team and involved close collaboration with the Marina team to contain a simulated oil spill within the harbour.

This bi-annual exercise is a vital part of the port’s emergency preparedness programme, ensuring that trained staff responders are equipped to act quickly and effectively should a real incident occur. Using pilot boats and oil spill booms, one from the port and another provided by Rampion, the teams successfully demonstrated their ability to contain the spill.

Harbour Master Stephen Tindale said, “Exercises like this are essential to maintaining a high level of preparedness at Newhaven Port. By working closely with our partners at the Marina, we can be confident that, in the unlikely event of a real oil spill, our teams are ready to respond quickly, safely, and effectively. Protecting the marine environment and ensuring the safety of all harbour users is always our top priority.”

Both the port and marina teams worked seamlessly together during the simulation. Thanks to this coordinated response, staff from the Newhaven port and the marina, are confident in their ability to react safely, efficiently, and in line with best practice if faced with an actual oil spill in the future.

In addition to the practical exercise, behind the scenes activities included notifying all the external agencies and the media of the “oil spill” as per the approved harbour response plan and a thorough debrief upon conclusion.