Fire crews to conduct oil spill response drills in Svelvik, Norway

On October 17 and 18, fire crews from the Drammen region, Asker and Bærum fire departments, and Kongsberg fire service will conduct drills in Svelvik. The exercise aims to equip the teams with practical experience in the event of an oil spill.

The training will take place at the Grunnane/Bokerøya area, which is home to the Grunnane Nature Reserve. Established in 1981, this reserve is known for its unique wetland ecosystem and rich bird life, both of which are at risk from potential oil spills given the heavy shipping traffic nearby.

During the exercise, teams will practice deploying booms in the northern section of Grunnane to determine how best to protect this sensitive area in the event of a spill. Henrik Trømborg from the Inter-Municipal Committee Against Acute Pollution will lead the drill, noting that the specific conditions at Grunnane, such as shallow waters, strong tidal currents, and nearby shipping, present unique challenges.

For 24 hours, the booms will remain in place to allow crews to evaluate their effectiveness against the tidal currents. Trømborg mentions that there will be several smaller boats on-site for the deployment and retrieval of the booms, making the exercise quite visible to onlookers.

The timing of the drills is strategic, taking place after the bird nesting and grazing seasons to minimize disturbances to local wildlife. The fire department has obtained permission from the county governor to carry out the training, emphasizing the importance of ensuring minimal disruption to the environment while preparing for potential ecological threats.