Report: Tetra Ireland was Central to the Co-ordination of a Major Galway Fire & Safety Exercise

A recent multi-agency training exercise at the TOPAZ Terminal in Galway Harbour has identified a number of learning points, writes Paul Duffy, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Galway Fire and Rescue Service. He says the post-exercise report will now help to further enhance their response to emergency incidents in Galway Harbour in the future

Thde TOPAZ Galway Terminal stores up to 40,000 tonnes of hydrocarbon product and is sited within Galway Harbour and within 800 metres of the city centre. The site consists of four large storage tanks (the largest a 13m high and 40m diameter unleaded gasoline tank) and five smaller day tanks, one containing ethanol. Commissioned after the UK Buncefield incident in 2005, the TOPAZ facility has considerable on-site fixed firefighting systems. An on-site 2.2 million litre water storage tank feeds twin 14,000 litres per minute fire pumps (one electric and one diesel). The pumps feed separate foam and water ring mains which supply tank foam top pourers and tank water drenchers respectively. The tank bunds are protected by a combination of medium expansion foam pourers and low expansion fixed monitors. The road tanker loading gantry is provided with a foam deluge system connected to a heat detection system. There are also a number of on-site mobile foam cannons. The on-site systems have been designed to facilitate fire service connection where necessary. External to the terminal, the harbour also has developed a 300mm sea water main which can deliver up to 12,000 litres per minute.

Please click here to download the full report to understnad more about the inter-agency response to a major incident involving TOPAZ, Galway Harbour Company, Galway Fire and Rescue Service, Galway City Council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, West Region  Fire Control and Civil Defence

Source: TETRA Ireland