ITOPF supports oil spill preparedness in Indonesia through hands-on Batam workshop

Before a ship-source oil spill occurs, engaging in preparedness workshops and sharing best practices remains one of the most effective ways to bolster a nations readiness to respond.

In support of this, ITOPF has travelled to Batam, Indonesia to participate in a two-day workshop hosted by the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP) and PERTAMINA EP, delivered in collaboration with GI SEA and Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) Singapore.

Through a series of technical presentations and a table-top exercise, ITOPF experts David Campion, Conor Bolas and Aaron Toh shared their experience in oil spill response with Indonesian authorities. The programme is designed to provide practical insights into response strategies and decision-making during incidents.

Over the course of the workshop, ITOPF delivered sessions on the use of aerial surveillance during an oil spill, highlighting how overflight observations can be used to inform response operations at sea and along affected shorelines. They presented on a range of response techniques, outlining when each approach is most effective depending on the nature and scale of a spill.

These sessions culminated in a table-top exercise led by ITOPF, providing participants with an opportunity to apply their learning in a simulated incident scenario.

This workshop forms part of ITOPF’s ongoing commitment to capacity building and international collaboration, supporting authorities and industry partners in enhancing readiness for ship-source pollution incidents.