Oil Spill Response in Ports & Inland Waterways Training

The Course

This course is designed to serve a two-fold purpose: to provide field training in oil spill response techniques while satisfying regulatory requirements for safety training of emergency responders. The training revolves around hands-on field exercises in boat handling, boom deployment and recovery, and pump and skimmer operations in bays, ports and inland waterways. The program also incorporates OSHA (29 CFR 1910.120) safety topics relative to emergency responders involved in an oil spill incident. This is a field-oriented course presented by our oil spill response instructors. A reference text complemented by other appropriate materials will be provided to each student during the course.

Upon successful completion of the course, each student will receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion from the National Spill Control School, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Classroom/Field Topics

Oil Spill Response Strategies

Toxicity of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

MSDS - Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Heat Stress and Hypothermia

Levels of Protection and PPE

Decontamination of personnel and equipment

Boat handling and Water Safety

Boom deployment and recovery

Pump and Skimmer Operations and Shoreline Recovery Systems

Shoreline Cleanup

Tow lines, knots, and anchoring systems

Booming a vessel

Booming in Currents

Corralling, Cascade and Chevron booming

Response Equipment Maintenance

Field Exercises

This course is primarily a "hands-on" course involving trailering boats, deployment and recovery of floating containment booms in corralling exercises, shore-based and on-water skimming systems operations, and equipment cleanup, maintenance and storage. Appropriate personal safety equipment including personal floatation devices will also be used.

Additional Information

Personal flotation devices will be provided during the field exercises, however you may bring your own if you prefer. Exercises include activities where we get “wet and dirty”, so bring your work clothes and boots or shoes that can get wet. Weather conditions in Corpus Christi can be very warm and windy from April to early October, with temperatures in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and winds at 15-20 mph. An examination will be given on the last day of the course.

Seminar Fee

$825 - Prepaid

Includes reference text and other course materials. For special government/industry group rates, contact the National Spill Control School at (361) 825-3333.

E-mail: nscs@tamucc.edu

WebSite: http://www.sci.tamucc.edu/nscs