Imagine a collision between two tankers amidst the unforgiving waters of the Dover Straits. Factor in personnel injuries, cargo losses, and environmental risks. Fortunately, this isn't an actual crisis; it's a crafted part of ‘Exercise White Cliff’, a two-stage crisis management exercise that Odfjell is currently developing in cooperation with Shell.
In this complex simulation, Odfjell Ship Management takes center stage, showcasing its strategic prowess and collective strength in tackling the unthinkable.
The exercise is by far the largest and most complex crisis management exercise we have ever done in Odfjell, and it will be some intense and challenging days as it culminates in September.
Odfjell Ship Management was invited by Shell in March to join this large-scale two-stage crisis management exercise. The first stage was a collision between two tankers, including notification, mobilization, medical evacuation, firefighting, damage control, and drift calculation. This stage was played on June 15, and the scenario was set to the Dover Straits: Our vessel, ‘Bow Exercise’ (based on Bow Star) was in the scenario hit by a Shell tanker on the port side and suffered personnel injuries and damage to several cargo tanks. The cargo (Benzene and Neodine) was lost to sea. In this first stage, Bow Exercise was able to safely anchor, while the Shell tanker ran aground.
The end state of stage 1 is used to set the framework for stage 2. This second stage will be played on September 27 and 28 and covers the two days after the collision. This stage will include family affairs, pollution clean-up, media handling, communication with cargo owners, vessel repair or salvage, and other long-term aspects of a serious accident at sea. For us, stage 2 will be an excellent opportunity to exercise cooperation between the Emergency Response Management Team and the Corporate Contingency Council.
Shell has mustered a considerable staff to plan the exercise. From Odfjell's end, the HSSEQ section takes part in the planning and HSE Manager Arve Matland will also be present in the playstaff locations in Kent during stage two together with Captain Carl-Henrik Wärsell. We have also included the exercise organizers in the Norwegian Hull Club, who will act as media and next-of-kin to ensure that we receive relevant challenges.
