Bermuda will host a three-day course about shoreline clean-up in the event of an oil spill.

Oil spill response expert Edward Owens will lead the course and train 17 people from the Bermuda Government in shoreline clean-up and assessment technique.

Eight people from Overseas Territories will also receive training throughout this week.

Home affairs minister Walter Roban said: “The focus of this course will be how to address the clean-up of different types of fuel and oils once they have bypassed protection booms and have reached various coastline areas.

“This includes mangroves, exposed corals and seagrass in addition to sandy beaches and a range of man-made structures including marinas.”

The course is funded by the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency.

Dr Owens, the president of Owens Coastal Consulting, has provided technical support on shoreline oil spill response operations since 1970 and on 39 major spills including the T/V Exxon Valdez spill and the more recent Deepwater Horizon Well blowout.

It comes as Overseas Territories prepare for a mandatory audit by the International Maritime Organisation that will assess how well legislation regarding ships’ safety and pollution is being followed.