Small oil parts originated from the sunken con/ro ‘Grande America’ are still washing up on certain beaches in Loire-Atlantique and Vendée, in the west coast of France, according to maritime agency Premar Atlantique. A few tens of kilograms of pollutants as well as several birds carrying traces of oil were recovered.
Oil spill is a major form of pollution and has negative impacts upon the marine environment. In order to face its affects, scientists from Flinders University in Adelaide along with the Australian Government and other collaborators, developed a material which can absorb oil spills.
A new study led by scientists at the University of Miami, which was published at Science Advances, revealed that the oil spread from the famous Deepwater Horizon oil spill was expanded in many more areas than what was shown in satellite data.
The US Coast Guard is responding to a crude oil spill in Tabbs Bay near Baytown, Texas, where for the time being the causes of the incident remain unknown and the authorities closely monitor the situation. According to estimation, 630 gallons of diesel fuel has been spilled at the area, and the authorities managed to secure the release and contain the spill. About 200-feet of boom has been deployed.
Following the incident of collision between a fishing vessel and a chemical tanker, the USCG issued an update informing of the suspension of search and rescue operations for the two fishermen missing and reporting of a spill that has been observed on the scene.
The International Group of P&I Clubs has published its Annual Review which provides an overview of the Group, key activities and areas of engagement.
The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) issued its oil spill statistics, noting a continuing decrease at the frequency of oil spills from tankers. With one large and two medium oil spills in 2019, the number in 2019 was the lowest in 50 years, ITOPF notes.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) officially announced that Certificate on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and Certificate on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (CLB) document are the first certificates to be issued electronically.
A situation involving a sunken barge in the Galapagos Islands which was carrying 600 gallons of diesel is under control but authorities are ‘very concerned’ about the vessel’s recovery, said Ecuador’s environment minister, Raul Ledesma.
The EU-funded Research and Innovation Action project “GRACE” intended for integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects, conducted a range of tests to develop better monitoring, response and impact assessment tools.
