PORT ANGELES — It will look like an oil spill, but it will be only a drill.
Tesoro Terminal in Port Angeles is sponsoring Tuesday’s multi-party oil spill drill near its facility on Ediz Hook, said Mike Alleyn, terminal manager.
No oil will be placed in the water during the drill, which will involve response boats, oil barrier booms, aircraft and other equipment as part of the practice drill — all deployed by Tesoro’s oil spill contractor, Marine Spill Response Corp., or MSRC.
MSRC is a private, not-for-profit company supported by oil terminal and shipping company members.
Other details about the drill — including the time it will begin — will not be revealed in advance, Alleyn said.
“We’re doing a cold start on this thing,” he said.
“The actual scenario will not be revealed until the time of the drill.”
Tesoro receives, stores and distributes fuel to barges and vessels.
The drill, in addition to testing capabilities of response to an oil spill, fulfills regulatory compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard, Alleyn said.
Drills are expected at least twice a year. Tesoro’s first drill this year was in March.
Representatives of the state Department of Ecology will observe and evalute Tuesday’s drill.
Under state law, oil tankers and fuel barges, refineries, liquid fuel pipelines, large oil-handling facilities, commercial cargo and fish-processing vessels and passenger ships must have oil spill contingency plans to operate in Washington state, Ecology said.
Larger ships and facilities must practice oil spill contingency plans in addition to regularly updating them.
By participating in the drill, MSRC’s customers will fulfill part of Washington’s oil-spill preparedness requirements.
Other companies participating in the drill and receiving drill credit include:
— Alaska Tankers Co., which operates oil tankers that deliver Alaska crude oil to Puget Sound refineries.
— BP Shipping, which operates tank vessels that handle crude oil and refined petroleum products.
— Harley Marine Services, a tug and barge company that transports petroleum products for oil companies operating in Puget Sound.
— Polar Tankers, Inc., which operates tank vessels that handle crude oil and finished petroleum products in Puget Sound.
— SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., which operates tank vessels that deliver Alaska crude oil to Puget Sound refineries.