US Navy’s SUPSALV conducts oil spill response manoeuvres

The US Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) has conducted an oil spill response exercise off Bahraini waters.

During the drill, conducted along with the US Navy’s Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168), a deep water oil containment boom, with a 5,000 pound mooring system, was deployed and recovered to and from Catawba.

The exercise also involved 5th Fleet, the Bahraini Coast Guard as well as elements from Navy Region Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.
SUPSALV deputy director Mike Dean said the training exercised capabilities such as responding to major near-shore and off-shore oil spills.

"Part of the SUPSALV mission is to provide in theater mission response to 5th Fleet within 48 hours of notification," Dean added.
The exercise aimed to demonstrate the ability of the Navy to respond to an emergent oil spill from a US Navy ship.

A part of the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Office of the Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving is responsible for all aspects of ocean engineering such as diving, salvage, in-water ship repair, towing and heavy lift, and open ocean oil and hazardous material spill response.