Stolt Tankers successfully completed an emergency incident drill with the Ulsan Port Authority in South Korea.

The Coast Guard, medical teams, police, offshore and shore-based firefighters, rescue services and pollution response ships also joined the exercise.

During any incident, the ship’s crew is always the first line of defence, until the authorities are informed, and this exercise was in preparation for that. The drill included an emergency scenario in which the Stolt Concept simulated a spill from a bunker tank which was punctured while berthing and a burst hydraulic line which caused a fire onboard. After a first attempt by two teams onboard to extinguish the fire, the crew assessed that they needed assistance and the Ulsan firefighters took over from both shore and sea.

Along with the firefighting drill and potential pollution emergency response exercise, several dummies were thrown overboard to represent people in distress in the water. Their simulated rescue involved releasing life rafts and life buoys from the ship, and rigging emergency embarkation ladders to get the ‘casualties’ back onboard.

“It was an honour to take part in this drill on behalf of Stolt Tankers. The ship’s entire management team, junior officers and crew did an excellent job.” – Captain Sanjin Bilen, Stolt Concept

All ships in the Stolt Tankers fleet regularly perform safety drills onboard, so the crew of the Stolt Concept was well prepared for this challenge.

Captain Sanjin Bilen of the Stolt Concept said: “It was an honour to take part in this drill on behalf of Stolt Tankers. The ship’s entire management team, junior officers and crew did an excellent job.

“This was the first drill of this kind for me, and it reassures me that if such an event were ever to happen, we would receive the necessary support from port side. The Coast Guard’s response to and retrieval of the people from the water – with divers and fast rescue boats – was particularly impressive.”

Ivo Verstrepen, Stolt Tankers’ Quality Assurance and Environmental Manager added: “The UPA’s equipment and response was also impressive. It’s an honour to be asked to take part in this type of exercise as it demonstrates the strong relationships that we have with the ports that we regularly call at.

“Our teams, both onboard the Stolt Concept and ashore, were incredibly pleased with how the exercise went. Many thanks to the team onboard Stolt Concept, Senior Ship Operator Derick Shin and Mr. JK Kim from our local shipping agency for making this joint drill with the Port of Ulsan a success.”

To top off the day, Mr. Kim, President of Ulsan Port Authority presented the team with a commemorative plaque which reads: “To Stolt Tankers in appreciation of your great efforts that support the disaster and safety management capabilities of Ulsan Port. UPA would like to express gratitude and hope to maintain a continuous collaborative relationship.”