Shell shares tank fire expertise

The NSWFB personnel were invited by Shell to take part in four-day workshops, which commenced yesterday at the Clyde Refinery, to advance collective knowledge of storage tank fire fighting.

While not a frequent occurrence, the opportunity to improve knowledge around the managing of industrial storage tank fires across industry was identified as the result of a serious ethanol tank explosion at Port Kembla, near Wollongong, during early 2004.

The workshop, delivered to Shell by the independent UK-based Resource Protection International (RPI), combines practical and theoretical activities designed to inform participants around ‘fire science’, systems engineering and major incident management.

Practical demonstrations using real-time simulators strongly feature throughout the program, allowing participants to work on scenarios around Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) tank fires, ‘boil overs’ of different fuel products, and rim seal blazes.

Shell Clyde Refinery and Gore Bay Terminal Safety Advisor, Brian Mathias, said the workshops would provide valuable information and skilling for refinery staff.

He said the involvement of the NSWFB personnel would bring greater advantage to both organisations and the wider community.

“Safety is a primary objective at Shell and we are constantly updating our knowledge and practices through exercises to ensure we continue to operate safely and responsibly,” Brian said.

“On this occasion we have recognised the value of transferring this specialist information to our colleagues at NSWFB. This will not only benefit Shell through extra familiarity with our site – it will further add to the NSWFB’s capacity to reduce risk to public and property across NSW.”

“This is also a natural extension of the strong partnership which the Shell Clyde Refinery has developed with the NSWFB across many years in the interests of effective and ongoing emergency management and liaison,” Brian said.

NSWFB Superintendent Garry McBain, Zone Commander for the Parramatta area, said the four day course would be a great opportunity to share vital knowledge and expertise.

“The NSWFB is keen to participate in this training and to expand our skills in fighting industrial storage tank fires with the information gathered to be integrated into our training and response protocols,” Supt McBain said

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For further information, please contact:

Paul Jackson, Shell Clyde Refinery and Gore Bay Terminal  (02) 9897 8016 or 0416 921 027