Join in at coast pollution exercise (From Dorset Echo)

Join in at coast pollution exercise

2:10pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

COUNCILS and other organisations are taking part in an exercise to ensure they are ready if the seas off Dorset are hit by pollution.

Beachmasters, which is run by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, gives experts the skills and knowledge to be able to manage coastal pollution.

The English Channel is one of the world’s main maritime routes, used by almost 20 per cent of maritime traffic.

More than 126,000 ships, carrying 354million tonnes of hazardous cargo, use the Channel each year.

Representatives from Environment Agency, Natural England and Dorset County, Christchurch Borough, Bourn-emouth, Borough of Poole, Purbeck District, Weymouth and Portland Bor-ough and West Dorset District Coun-cils are taking part in the two-day event at Christchurch which started yesterday.

Representatives will learn about things like booming, clearing up coastal pollution, inshore recovery, and dealing with oil spills.

Emergency management officer at Dorset County Council Nigel Osborne said: “Coastal pollution is always a risk in Dorset. We need to be prepared for every eventuality and that is what this course is about.

“All the people attending have key parts to play in keeping the county's seas and shores clear of pollution.”