The Regional Clean Sea Organization (Recso) conducted a two-day training course on “Shorelines and Oil Spills – Response, Protection and Clean-Up” which was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai, UAE from the 14th & 15th December 2010.

The two-day training course was developed for personnel with management and supervisory responsibility who are likely to take role of the Beach Master Drawing. A number of topics were taught including; Behavior and Fate of Oil; The Environmental Impacts of an Oil Spill; Health and Safety at an Oil Spill; Role of the Beach Master and Site Management; Containment and Protection; Recovery Equipment; Sampling Activities; Decontamination; Appropriate Strategies for Different Shore Types; Waste Management; Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA); Case Studies; and Practical / Field Exercise.

The lectures 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 Umm Suqeim Beach.

Participants were from a wide range of organizations and locations including; Al Khafji Joint Operations (KGOC – AGOC); Qatar Petroleum (QP); Kuwait Oil Company (KOC); Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (TAKREER); Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco); Dubai Police; Petroleum Development Oman & Shell Markets Middle East.