The Regional Clean Sea Organization (Recso) & Qatar Petroleum (QP) jointly organized / conducted a three-day training course on “IMO Level 2 – Oil Spill Response for Supervisors and On-Scene Commanders (Offshore and Shoreline Operations)” at the Ramada Plaza, Doha, State of Qatar from the 25th till 27th September 2011.

The three day course was officially opened by Mr. Salem Abdul Rahman Al-Wehaibi, Chairman of Recso and Manager – Mesaieed Port of Qatar Petroleum (QP).

The training course was introduced for personnel with best industry practices for the planning preparations and implementation for dealing with oil spills and other major incidents and has been developed for personnel with responsibility for the planning for Oil spill and other emergency response operation. A number of topics were taught including; Behavior and fate of oil and the implications for response; Contingency planning; Alert, mobilization and reporting of spills; Operations management – making the right strategy choice and carrying out successful operations; Containment and recovery systems; Quantification of oil spills; Logistics, maintenance and communications; Waste management – transfer, storage and disposal; Hazards to personnel and responding safely; Preparedness and planning; Planning for recovery; Media relations and corporate communications; and finally the Practical & table-top exercises.

The course instructors were complemented by spill scenarios, practical field sessions and a major equipment deployment of containment booms, skimmers, and beach cleaning equipments on the final day at the Qatar Petroleum Beach Club.

Participants were from a wide range of organizations and locations including; Qatar Petroleum (QP); The Bahrain Petroleum Company B.S.C. © (BAPCO); Al Khafji Joint Operations (KGOC – AGOC); Kuwait Oil Company (KOC); Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco); Maersk Oil Qatar AS (MOQ); Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO); Al Sulaiti Trading & Marine Services; Exxon Mobil Research Qatar; Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) & Tatweer Petroleum.

During the closing ceremony the guest of honour Mr. Mohammed Jassim Al-Baker, Director – Mesaieed Industrial City of Qatar Petroleum (QP), Mr. Salem Abdul Rahman Al-Wehaibi, Chairman of Recso and Manager Mesaieed Port of Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Mr. Ali Rajab Ashkanani, Manager Oil Spill & Emergency Response of Qatar Petroleum (QP) presented the certificates to the course participants.

Mr. Salem also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all Recso members for their continued support for accrediting the training program.