Emergency drill puts Port Kembla to the test

On May 7th, the Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) mobilized the members of Port Kembla's Marine Operations team to practice their emergency response skills in the event of a hazardous materials spill. The goal was to test their preparedness against a major environmental incident under real-life conditions.

With support from NSW Ports, emergency responders, and chemical importer IXOM, the exercise involved a simulated sulfuric acid spill from a vessel at berth in the outer harbour. From initial detection to the deployment of marine pollution response assets and the treatment of simulated casualties, every stage of the emergency plan was put to the test.

Such hands-on training is carried out regularly across the Port Authority of NSW sites as part of its commitment to proactive risk management — an initiative that aligns with Green Marine’s Spill Prevention and stormwater management performance indicator.

As a new participant, the Port Authority is showing how serious it is about protecting the environment and safeguarding nearby communities and ecosystems.