COURSE OVERVIEW:

The OPRC Level 1 course is an essential operational program designed for personnel who are first on the scene of an oil spill at marine terminals, ports, or offshore installations. This course examines the fundamental techniques of spill containment and recovery, focusing on the immediate actions required to stabilize a pollution incident. It provides a practical foundation in the deployment of equipment and the implementation of local contingency plans to protect sensitive shorelines.

The scope of this training involves a hands-on approach to the use of booms, skimmers, and sorbent materials. Participants will explore the behavior of different oil types on water and how environmental factors like wind and tide influence the movement of a spill. The program emphasizes the safety of the responder, the importance of early reporting, and the effective use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous hydrocarbons.

Coverage includes the basic principles of shoreline cleanup and the management of oily waste generated during recovery operations. The course addresses the communication link between the field operators and the command center, ensuring a coordinated effort. By focusing on tactical execution, this course equips first responders with the skills to mitigate environmental damage and execute the initial stages of an oil spill response effectively.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

1. Identify the properties of various oils and their behavior when spilled at sea.
2. Implement the initial notification and reporting procedures for oil spills.
3. Deploy different types of oil containment booms in varying current conditions.
4. Operate various mechanical skimmers for the recovery of floating oil.
5. Apply sorbent materials effectively for small-scale spill cleanup.
6. Identify shoreline types and appropriate cleanup techniques for each.
7. Utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) correctly during response activities.
8. Perform basic maintenance on spill response equipment and pumps.
9. Execute shoreline protection booming strategies for sensitive areas.
10. Manage the temporary storage and transport of collected oily waste.
11. Understand the health and safety risks associated with oil spill response.
12. Work effectively within a local incident command structure.
13. Conduct a post-operation equipment decontamination and storage procedure.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  

Port Operators, Deck Crew, Terminal Technicians, Emergency Response Teams, and Marine Maintenance Staff.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.