Japan to help stop oil spills

Japan to help stop oil spills

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Japan is eager to assist in
efforts to stop oil spills and pollution in the Makassar Straits
caused by ship accidents, Antara reported.

"The Makassar Straits is an alternate route for Japanese
tankers to transport oil from Saudi Arabia," a local
transportation official, Subarman, said here yesterday.

Japan was involved in joint training exercises in response to
sea pollution under the name "Marpolex" (Maritime Pollution
Exercise) in Ujungpandang waters yesterday.

The exercises were joined by rescue teams, and sea pollution
teams from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan which used 10
ships, two helicopters and a Falcon aircraft.

Ships designed to handle oil spills use "oil boom" technology.
They can localize the oil, separate it from the sea water and
then absorb it.

"If there is a tanker ship accident, we could save the crew
and at the same time minimize the possibility of an oil spill,"
Subarman said.

Japan joined Marpolex in 1995. Joint training exercises are
held every two years.

Besides the joint exercises, the authorities have also been
installing navigation guides in the Makassar Straits to avoid
accidents. (swe)