The Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday held a drill to respond to oil spills at Chan May Port in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, with over 1,000 participants and dozens of vessels.

The drill simulated an oil spill from the 6,000-metric-ton Truong Sa 01 oil vessel from Hai Phong City in the northern region to Quang Ngai Province in the central region on Wednesday. 

Part of the simulation involved a hypothetical collision with a cargo vessel at Chan May Port. The Truong Sa 01 held 1,200 cubic meters of oil and was carrying a crew of 12 at the time.

A result of the hypothetical collision was a piercing in the hull of the Truong Sa 01 oil vessel which caused some 50 cubic meters of the oil to leak.

Five crew members aboard the vessel fell into the sea during the impact and the engine room encountered a power surge and was on the verge of a fire and explosion.

Upon receiving news about the incident, authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province immediately detached rescue, police, and military forces to the scene and reported the case to the Ministry of National Defense as well as other relevant agencies.

A steering unit was established at Chan May Port to cope with the oil spill.

The steering unit deployed many specialized ships to collect the spilled oil from the water's surface and used oil absorbents to minimize the spread of the spill.

The military force dealt with chemicals flowing inshore, warned ships and vessels in the area of the incident, and relocated residents away from dangerous sites.  

During the 90-minute drill, crew members aboard the Truong Sa 01 vessel were saved and taken ashore safely.

The spilled oil was collected and handled according to regulations in order to ensure safety.

After the drill ended, the administration in Thua Thien-Hue Province gave certificates of merit to 12 cooperatives and 15 individuals with outstanding achievements in oil spill drills in 2024.

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