The UK will test elements of its response to an oil spill incident on May 25 and 26 by running an equipment exercise on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly.

The exercise will simulate how the UK would react to a pollution incident with a focus on at-sea and shoreline protection. The exercise will test how effectively and efficiently counter pollution equipment and personnel can be deployed to an incident.  

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are leading the exercise and will be working closely with the counter pollution equipment contractor Braemar Howells, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and Isles of Scilly Harbour Authority. 

During the two-day exercise a variety of different counter pollution equipment will be deployed at Porth Hellick on St Mary’s and at-sea from the port. A number of vessels will be involved and oil protection booms and relatively new equipment will be tested.