Oil Spill Proof of Concept Supports Maritime Security Operations

Photo By Lt. Cassandra Thompson | MANAMA, Bahrain - Two offshore skimmers tow a boom (floating barrier) across the water during an oil spill and recovery proof of concept demonstration, April 29. The proof of concept focused on the ability of U.S. Navy and host nation assets to respond quickly and collect and recover offshore oil spills. USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85), along with Bahraini Coast Guard emergency management personnel, participated in the exercise. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Journalist 2nd Class Cassandra Thompson.  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

05.01.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Journalist 2nd Class Cassandra Thompson

MANAMA, Bahrain - Two U.S. Navy ships along with Bahraini Coast Guard emergency management teams participated in a proof of concept demonstration, April 29, off the port Mina Salman.

USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) executed the proof of concept, which entailed simulating an oil spill and conducting the subsequent containment and recovery.

During the demonstration, McCampell Sailors simulated the shipboard responses to an oil spill, including launching rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBS), assembling a hose team and using hazardous material (HAZMAT) apparatus, while Catawba Sailors launched an offshore boom (floating barrier) intended to contain a large spill at sea.

The spill response system includes two offshore skimmers (vessels), roughly 20,000 feet of offshore boom, towboats and support equipment. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command owned the only pollution control system of this kind outside of the continental United States.

Cmdr. Vincent McBeth, commanding officer of McCampell, said his Sailors were excited about participating in the proof of concept demonstration. McBeth, from Camden, Ark., said he considered it critical that his team understand the significance of being ready to respond to a HAZMAT eventuality on board or even off the side of the ship.

"We're operating in this marine environment every day, and it's important that my team understand that the actions we take can either harm this environment or contribute to the security of this environment," said McBeth. "A lot of our Gulf Coast nations rely on [these waters] for their livelihood, and it's important that we remain stewards of that environment all the time."

"We definitely proved to ourselves that we could contain any type of spill we have," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Jake Wright, from Fresno, Calif. "I'm proud of the way the guys responded today. Everybody knew what they were supposed to do, and did exactly what they have been trained to do this entire time. That's what we do; we're constantly training, constantly making ourselves one step better. I would go through any type of casualty with these guys."

McCampbell, homeported in San Diego, is deployed in the Arabian Gulf as part of a routine rotation of U.S. maritime forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and is conducting maritime security operations (MSO) while in the region.

MSO set the condition for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as compliment the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny
international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

Catawba is permanently attached to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain.

• Date Taken: 05.01.2006
• Date Posted: 05.01.2006 11:30
• Story ID: 6186
• Location: MANAMA, BH