China holds drill to test marine response

Vessels take part in an oil spill drill near the coast of Qinzhou city, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Sept 23, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANNING - China held its first national oil spill drill near the southern coast on Monday to test how prepared the country is in the event of a severe marine pollution incident.

The drill, organized by the Ministry of Transport, simulated a scene involving a collision between a tanker with 20,000 tonnes of crude oil and an empty cargo ship. The simulated collision resulted in an oil spill, fire and injuries to personnel.

The drill used 38 vessels, two airplanes, one ambulance and more than 300 rescuers.

As most of China's oil imports, which accounts for more than half of the nation's oil consumption, are shipped by marine vessels, the country's nearby ocean is prone to risks of spills that would threaten the marine environment.

Zhi Guanglu, China Maritime Search and Rescue Center executive director, said the drill was an attempt to implement the government's plan of building an ecological civilization and protecting the marine environment.

The drill involved not only professional rescue teams but also fishermen and volunteers.

So far, the Ministry of Transport has installed water-cleaning utility storages at major water shipping areas, such as Bohai Bay on the country's north coast and along the Yangtze River.