PIMMAG - PAJ JOINT EXERCISE IN PORT DICKSONJULY 31 - AUGUST 2, 2000
ABSTRACTThe Straits of Malacca having approximately 500 vessels passing through theshallow and narrow watemlay is one of the busiest sea-lanes in the world. The
South China Sea with its accelerated development in the offshore petroleum
industry poses additional risk as a result of consequential increase in tanker
traffic. Owing to this sensitivity, Malaysian oil companies formed PIMMAG in
1993 to enhance protection of the environment and respond to members oil spill
contingencies.
PAJ formed in 1990 developed 5 strategic oversea bases in Singapore,Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE and Saudi Arabia, along the transit route of thetankers transporting crude oil imported by Japan from the Middle East. This is toensure that the impact of oil spill on the environment of the countries theproduct are passing through, is appropriately handled.
With that aspiration, PIMMAG and PAJ planned and conducted a joint exercise
in August, 2000 at Port Dickson, Malaysia. The three day exercise consisting ofequipment familiarisation, offshore deployment and beach clean up operations
was safely, smoothly and successfully carried out achieving the set objectives.
It is recommended that this joint exercise be organised on an ongoing basis.

PIMMAG – PAJ JOINT EXERCISE IN PORT DICKSONJULY 31 – AUGUST 2, 2000

INTRODUCTION
Formation of PIMMAG
Malaysia, a maritime nation, has relatively long coastline of approximately 4,500
km located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans at the centre of theAssociation of South East Asian Nations sharing her borders with all the groupmember states as in Figure 1. The seas bordering Malaysia namely the Straitsof Malacca and the South China Sea serve as an important sea lanes linking
the West to the Far East.

The Straits of Malacca, a shallow funnel shaped waterway with its narrowest
passage near Singapore Island is known to be one of the busiest sea lanes in
the world having approximately 500 tankers and cargo ships plying the Straits
each day. Owing to the hazardous nature of the narrow and shallow waterwaywith congested entrance towards the south, the Straits is thus exposed to thethreat of potential oil spill.
The South China Sea bordering the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabahand Sarawak is no exception. The accelerated development and exploitation of
Malaysia's offshore petroleum resources and those of its neighbours introduces
similar risk as a result of consequential increase in tanker traffic. With that
extent of sensitivity the oil companies in Malaysia in their effort to mitigate andcombat oil spill as well as strengthening the national response capability,
established in 1993 a joint service company called PIMMAG to enhanceprotection of environment and respond to members' oil spill contingencies inMalaysian waters.
Formation of PAJ
Japan imports over 800/0 of its crude oil need from the Middle East and 950/0of the transportation of these cargo passes through the Straits of Malacca withthe balance 50/0 transit through the Lombok Straits. Hence, Japan is obliged toensure that their operation takes into consideration the adverse impact of an oil
spill on the lives and environment of the countries where the products arepassing. PAJ major OSR programme created in 1 990 had developed 5
strategically located overseas bases within the transit route namely in
Singapore, Port Klang in Malaysia, Jakarta in Indonesia, Alkhafji in Saudi Arabiaand Abu Dhabi in UAE to ofFer remedial measures to an oil spill incident.
Through the appropriate implementation of the programme, PAJ would
contribute not only towards the promotion of OSR capability but also to global
marine environment conservation as well as ensuring stable supply of oil toJapan.

P LA N
With the above aspirations of both the organisations, PIMMAG and PAJ initiateda plan in mid 1 999 to conduct a joint exercise with the aim of:･ Creating opportunity for the two bodies to exchange knowledge and test theirequipment.
･ Developing rapport to understand each other's capabilities and work culture
to enable effective future joint operations.
･ Obtaining hands-on knowledge on equipment optimum utilisation andmanpower co-ordination in an emergency situation.
After a number of meetings and discussions ensued, the plan was eventuallyrealised on July 31 to August 2, 2000 when a joint exercise was conducted in
Port Dickson, Malaysia.

EXERCISE
10 PAJ personnel from various installations in Japan and 20 PIMMAG members
from PETRONAS, E~(ON, Mobil, Shell and Cabot (see Picture 1) participated in
the three day session consisting of three operations:Day 1- Introduction - Warehouse Tour
Equipment Familiarisation
Day 2 - Offshore Deployment
Day 3 - Beach Cleanup Operations

The introduction session held at Paradise Lagoon Hotel teed off with briefings
given by the Managers of PIMMAG and PAJ respectively followed later by visit
to the PIMMAG Port Dickson Base for equipment familiarisation (see Pictures 2,3 & 4). The Base Manager ran through with all participants both the PIMMAG
and PAJ equipment utilised for the offshore deployment and beach clean up
exercises. Briefings were conducted both in English and Japanese (seePictures 5 to 9). The offshore deployment exercise commenced at 0700 hours
the next day where the participants divided into 2 groups boarded two different
vessels, one containing PAJ equipment and the other PIMMAG'S and sailed forlong 101048' and lat 020 28' about 10 nm off the coast of Port Dickson. Various
boom configurations namely l, U & J formations using hi-sprint and ocean
booms were deployed from the vessels followed by skimming operations using
GT 185 and Foilex TDS-200 skimmers. Lastly boat spraying operation wasconducted to conclude the exercise. The exercise was successfully completedwith testing of all equipment utilised and debriefing at 1 600 hrs (see Pictures 10to 15).
Equipment utilised were:PIMMAG
250 m Ocean Boom
200 m Sea Sentinel BoomTDS 200 Foilex Skimmer

PA J
Hi-Sprint BoomGT 185 Skimmer

The beach clean-up operations commenced at 0800 hrs on the last day of thesession at Glory Beach along Port Dickson coast with the participants also
divided into 2 teams deployed beach booms, operated beach power vacuum,
T-12 Disc and Manta -Ray skimmers, erected Fast Tanks and set up tents (seePictures 16 to 39).
The exercise was demobilised at 1200 hrs followed by debriefing session
conducted at the Base (see Pictures 40 to 51).

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

PIMMAG-PAJ Joint Exercise

Equipment used were:PIMMAG

PA J

60 m Beach Boom
T-1 2 Skimmer
Manta-Ray SkimmerTents

Beach Power Vacuum
Fast Tanks

CONCLUSION
The entire exercise was successfully and safely completed, fully achieving its
set objectives. There was an apparent good team work, co-operation andcollaboration between PIMMAG and PAJ personnel irrespective of language
restrictions. The whole operations were conducted smoothly without a ny
difficulty in operation of all the equipment albeit responding to oil spill
emergencies. There was a clear indication that the joint exercises and training
are the ways to fine tune our co-operation and getting hands on knowledge on
how best our equipment can be co-ordinated to give the optimum utilisation inan emergency situation.
To commemorate the event, we arranged for media coverage of the exerclse
whlch was later published in the local newspaper (see Figure 2).

RECOMMENDATION
In view of the success achieved in conducting this exercise and the benefit
gained by participants from both organisations, it is recommended that this joint
exercise be organised on an ongoing basis.