FERRY company, Red Funnel, is taking part in a multi-agency oil spill response exercise in Southampton Water today (Tuesday, September 11) from 10am.

The emergency response exercise will involve BP Hamble, Red Funnel, Whitaker Tankers and the ABP Southampton marine team.

The scenario for the simulated exercise is a significant oil spill following a collision between a ferry passing up Southampton Water and a tanker alongside the jetty at BP Hamble. The aim of the exercise is to test the multi-agency response to a Tier 2 spill to prevent, or limit, the impact of such an event.

Contingency plans will be tested and the exercise will allow a wide range of organisations to strengthen their partnership approach, in the event that a significant scale, multi-agency response is ever required.