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)