By PortalPortuario Editorial Staff
The Port Authority of Santos (APS) conducted a simulation of emergency response to an oil (mineral or vegetable) spill in the waters of the Organized Port of Santos. This exercise is part of the APS Individual Emergency Plan (PEI), established in 2000. Two simulations are conducted annually to train teams in this type of response.
Four vessels and 14 people participated in Thursday’s simulation, including representatives from APS and employees of HDC, the company contracted by the Port Authority to act in this type of incident.
They concentrated in the Saboó region, where an oil leak from the city’s drainage pipes directly into the estuary channel was simulated. They also simulated the care of an animal affected by the oil.
According to Beto Mendes, APS Operations Director, it was an opportunity to check the strategies adopted and evaluate any eventualities. “It went as planned and allowed us to improve the procedures,” he says.
This strategy is just one of those developed by APS for the care of the seas. The company develops several initiatives seeking to protect marine ecosystems and mitigate environmental impacts on the oceans.
The actions include water quality monitoring, decarbonization of port operations, and rigorous waste management, among other activities.
The Water Quality Monitoring Program, for example, includes monthly measurements at 16 points along the navigation channel to track ecological changes. The work allows for the evaluation of the water’s physical-chemical and microbiological parameters.
