Tag: oil spill prevention

On Sunday, March 3, the North Atlantic Kairos, an oil supply tanker, experienced an oil spill in Port aux Basques Harbour. As Marine Atlantic informed, officials have contained the oil spill, while a boom has also been deployed. North Atlantic is investigating the cause of the spill, which is not expected to impact Marine Atlantic's crossings when weather conditions improve and operations resume.

The U.S. Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) decided to withdraw several offshore safety rules that were enacted under the Obama administration-era Well Control Rule. According to data provided by BSEE the department has been issuing hundreds of waivers for a number of these rules, prior to their repeal.

The US Coast Guard informed that it responded to a sheen reported from a container ship moored at the Matson Terminal in Oakland, on 22 February. The crewmembers of the ship noticed the sheen on 21 February, shortly after mooring. The Matsonia crew started the ship's vessel response plan, informed the US Coast Guard and the National Response Center of the sheen and placed containment boom around the ship to contain the sheen.

The number of marine pollution and oil spill accidents in South Korea reported a rise during 2018, the Korea Coast Guard informed. Namely, a total of 288 accidents of sea pollution were reported in the country in 2018, an increase of 6%, or 271, from the previous year. The amount of pollutants that leaked into the sea in the accidents increased as well by 9% to 251 kiloliters in 2018.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has published a circular to regulate marine oil spill cleanup and recovery efforts. Specifically, a preliminary investigation on the level of pollution will have to be made within the first 10 days after the report of an oil spill. The circular will apply from March 12.

Arctic FoxTail, a new oil spill response device, capable of cleaning up spills in the Arctic passed the testing as stated by H Henrisken's press release. The device is a winterised version of the company's Foxtail mop skimmer and contributes to Norway's preparedness when it comes to oil spills. 

The ASEAN Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan was adopted by the 24th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 8 November. The Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan provides a mechanism where ASEAN Member States can request and provide mutual support in response to any oil spills.

UK presented the first images from a satellite which is able to see through clouds and image the Earth. SAR can see through clouds and image the Earth throughout the day. These images can be used to detect oil spills as well as suspicious shipping activity. They are also able to monitor deforestation.

On October, INTERPOL conducted a world-wide law enforcement operation aimed at investigating maritime pollution found 500 offences, including illegal discharges of oil and garbage from ships, violations of ship emissions rules, as well as river pollution and runoffs from land to sea. The international effort led to more than 5200 inspections resulted in at least 185 investigations, with arrests and prosecutions anticipated.