Government employees have been undergoing extensive training on the managing of emergencies - with personnel training for a mock oil spill and airplane hostage crisis.

Over 75 personnel were in action yesterday testing the Island's Marine Contingency Plan.

The day-long exercise simulated an oil spill from a visiting tanker off the oil docks in Ferry Reach. A command post was set up at Harbour Radio and Dr. Tom Sleeter from the Ministry of Environment coordinated the `clean up' based on information coming in from the field.

"I am extremely impressed by the total effort that has gone into making the exercise as realistic as possible," Environment Minister Dennis Lister said yesterday after a visit to the makeshift command centre.

"This will ensure that all resources are fully prepared should we have the misfortune of experiencing a real oil spill of any magnitude."

And earlier this month, a number of emergency service officers from Government completed a training course in the handling of crises at the Airport.

The week-long course took place at Warwick Camp and included a role-play exercise in dealing with a hostage situation aboard an airplane.

Fourteen mid-level managers and supervisors from Regiment, Police Service, Fire Service, the Airport Fire Department, Government Information Services and the Department of Civil Aviation participated in the course which was organised by Aviation Security Officer Roger Brydon.

"I wanted those attending to develop their knowledge base and use that as a platform for their plans going forward in all matters of airport crisis management," Mr. Brydon said in a Government-issued press release.

Two overseas experts joined Mr. Brydon in conducting the training - Steve Berti of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and John Pears from the UK Department of Transport. ICAO assists its member states in implementing international standards and recommended practices for airport security. Bermuda, as a British Overseas Territory, is an affiliate of ICAO which has 187 member states.

An Airport Security Manager from Barbados also participated in the recent training exercise and, Mr. Brydon said he hopes to see Bermuda take a leadership role in the Caribbean.

"This was a productive session and I think all who attended gained a deeper appreciation of their roles and a better sense of how all the parts fit together to produce the desired result."

Many of the participants will be involved in another joint exercise later in the year.