An emergency response safety exercise, which simulates an oil spill in the Firth of Forth, will take place on Tuesday 17^th September in the vicinity of Pathhead Sands and Seafield Beach in Kirkcaldy.

Clearwater Forth – the oil pollution preparedness, response and cooperation plan – is tested annually by Forth Ports in different areas around the River Forth. Fife Council will partner with Forth Ports for the exercise this year and it is likely that the exercise will result in some activity on Pathhead Sands and Seafield Beach. Residents and walkers should not be alarmed by this activity, it is a training exercise only and there is no risk to the environment. The beaches will remain open but there will be specialist equipment in use so members of the public are advised to remain at a safe distance

Alan McPherson, Chief Harbour Master, Forth Ports, said: “The Clearwater Forth annual training exercise help us all gain experience so that we are better equipped to respond speedily and effectively should a real oil spillage ever occur in the river. Safety is a top priority for Forth Ports and all the other organisations involved in Clearwater Forth.

“No-one in the local area of Kirkcaldy should be alarmed if they see activity on the beaches, it’s a training exercise and there is no risk to the environment, people or property. We look at all kinds of situations during exercises and build on any lessons that arise so that we can improve our emergency procedures and be better placed to protect the local communities and the environment.”

Shona Robertson, Fife Council’s Emergency Resilience Manager, said: “Protecting the environment and Fife’s popular coastline is a priority for Fife Council and our local communities. This training exercise provides us and our partners with the opportunity to fully test arrangements, including Fife Council’s Pollution Contingency Plan, to ensure we are well-positioned to respond should any actual incident ever occur.”

Clearwater Forth is an established emergency response plan designed to handle incidents on the river which may involve the risk of oil pollution. The plan is the responsibility of Forth Ports and is only required to be tested every three years. However, Forth Ports tests this on an annual basis as the ports group views safety as a priority.