A LIVE on-the-water exercise simulating an oil spill incident is taking place off the Isle of Wight this week.

We will be able to watch from today (Tuesday) as a number of specialist vessels and low-flying planes work on the water.

A Boeing 727 airliner will be among them, adapted with internal tanks, pumps, and spray booms, alongside a dedicated surveillance aircraft.

It will be flying at a low level and depositing a small amount of a harmless fluorescein dye into the water to simulate an oil spill.

Oil Spill Response vessels will then perform the relevant training activities and use the aircraft to spray water over the target area, simulating the application of a specialist oil spill dispersant.

The exercise, which is being conducted by Southampton-based company, Oil Spill Response, is intended to test response equipment and instruct personnel on best-practice procedures.

It is taking place southwest of the Isle of Wight, along the Solent, from June 21 to 25 (Friday).

Throughout the week, various containment and remediation equipment items will be deployed in the water and may be visible from the shore.

Apparatus will include a range of different booms used to contain oil in an actual spill scenario and ‘skimmers’, which collect oil from the water’s surface and transfer it to a tank or vessel.

We have been assured no oil or dispersants are being used, and there is no risk to the coastline or local marine life.