22 May 2025, a full-scale practical oil spill response exercise was conducted at Jetty A in the STIR terminal, following the conclusion of the IMO Level 2 training course. The exercise was based on a realistic scenario drawn from the STIR Oil Spill Contingency Plan, in which a tanker made a wrong maneuver and collided with the dock, causing a breach in one of its bunkers. This breach resulted in a leak of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) into the marine environment.

The exercise included the deployment of oil spill response equipment under field conditions, involving: 400 meters of fence boom, 10 meters of sorbent boom, one weir skimmer, one fastank and absorbent pads. In parallel, a simulated emergency evacuation of an injured individual was conducted directly on the jetty, adding a vital element of health and safety preparedness to the overall response scenario. Approximately 35 delegates from Tunisia and across the Mediterranean Region attended the exercise as observers. They had the opportunity to witness firsthand the rapid deployment, coordination, and technical skills of the response team.

General feedback from observers was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the realism, efficiency and commitment demonstrated throughout the exercise. The response team was highly commended for their professionalism, motivation, and effective execution of the drill.

A debriefing session led by Arnaud GUENA and Nicolas JARRY, was held afterward at the Bizerta Resort Hotel. The session was attended by MOIG members and STIR guests, and included a detailed presentation of the lessons learned from the practical exercise, aimed at further strengthening future response capabilities. The MOIG Management Committee extends its sincere thanks to STIR for its warm welcome and generous hospitality, and to Arnaud GUENA and Nicolas JARRY for their continued technical assistance and invaluable support provided to STIR through MOIG.