Dehradun, June 18 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard Friday reviewed its preparedness and contingency plans to tackle oil spills in the wake of the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest offshore disaster in the US.
The Indian Coast Guard held a meeting here to deliberate on the problem areas pertaining to safety of offshore installations and the preparedness-level of the oil industry to meet exigencies from any oil spill.
‘The Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil spill and issues emanating from the same were deliberated and analysed at the meeting,’ an official statement said.
Indian Coast Guard Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra presided over the meeting, which was attended by about 70 delegates from various government departments, ports, oil industry, oil exploration units and state maritime boards.
The Indian Coast Guard, the primary agency for coordinating an oil spill response, has undertaken various preparedness measures, which include assistance in preparation of contingency plans for ports and oil handling agencies, conduct of basic and advanced training of resource personnel and regular conduct of pollution response exercises and drills, the statement said.
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, considered as the largest such in US history, with tens of millions of gallons spilled so far, stemmed from a sea floor oil gusher that resulted from a drilling rig explosion in April.
