The US Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy and the National Strike Force Coordination Center published new guidelines for the Oil Spill Removal Organization classification program. The major revision in the 2019 guidelines focuses on realigning the classification program with applicable regulation provisions.
IMO conducted a workshop in Cambodia, the latest country to update its oil spill contingency plan, by acknowledging the country’s specific risks and gaps, so that they’re able to rapidly and effectively respond to potential oil spill incidents.
Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. is continuing response efforts regarding a release from the platform on July 17. Production remains shut in, while HMDC is continuing its investigation. The initial slick size was estimated by HMDC to be 900m x 20m, while it was also estimated to be approximately 4.6 kms at its widest part.
The Chilean Navy confirmed the spillage of 40,000 litres of diesel into the sea in a remote and ‘pure’ area of the South American country’s Patagonia and added that they are working to eliminate the fatal effects. The Chilean Navy embarked a pollution response and control team that will use specialized elements to mitigate the effects of oil spilled into the sea.
Hibernia Management and Development Company notified the C-NLOPB on July 17, 2019 of an oil slick observed on the water near the Hibernia platform, located 315 kilometres from St. John’s, NL. The initial slick size was estimated by HMDC to be 900m x 20m, while it is also estimated to be approximately 4.6 kms at its widest part.
According to the African News Agency, the oil spill occurring from MV Chrysanthi S was due to a not properly closed tank valve. Although the African authorities managed to contain the oil spill, the damage had already been done.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority informed than an investigation is underway to establish the cause of the oil spillage incident during a bunkering service off the port of Ngqhura near Port Elizabeth on July 6 morning. It was reported that up to 200-400 litters of fuel well spilled into the ocean.
MPA Singapore published a circular reminding to all ships supplying and receiving bunkers in the Port of Singapore that bunkering related oil spills generally take place because of operational lapses and could be avoided if all necessary precautions are taken.
Humanitarian Affairs Chief Mark Lowcock alerted the UN Security Council that an aging oil tanker moored outside Yemen’s Hodeidah port was at risk of exploding. The moored tanker was close to Yemen’s recently demilitarized Hodeidah port. During his speech, he highlighted that ‘The spill could reach from Bab el Mandeb to the Suez Canal, and potentially as far as the Strait of Hormuz.’
The Government of Canada announced earlier in 2019 that it is investing $2.4 million in scientific research at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, to boost knowledge on oil spill response as part of its efforts to keep its oceans clean, safe and healthy.
