U.S. Coast Guard conducts spill response exercise with Supreme Petroleum Guam

PITI, Guam — On May 1, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam personnel executed a Government-Initiated Unannounced Exercise (GIUE) at the Harbor of Refuge testing Supreme Petroleum, a key player in Guam’s petroleum industry.  The drill, run and evaluated by personnel from the Guam-based U.S. Coast Guard Emergency Management and Force Readiness, Prevention, and Incident Management divisions, simulated an oil spill scenario to guarantee safety, appropriate notifications, and prompt response actions. The primary mission was to evaluate the facility’s ability to execute response plans swiftly and efficiently under real-world conditions, which they met satisfactorily. “The significance of the National Preparedness for Response Program (PREP) highlights that facilities must follow different standards. These unannounced exercises are like pop quizzes for facilities, testing how they respond to oil discharges. Reflecting on the exercise, seeing how everyone knew what to do and jumped into action was impressive. They activated their plan efficiently, and it was great to witness,” said Lt. Henry Dunphy, the chief of emergency management and force readiness at U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.