Oil company Husky Energy is planning to install a replacement flowline connector at the White Rose Field. This comes after the 250.000-liter oil spill in the Atlantic, which took place on November 2018, due to a flawed flowline connector. The company would use the DOF’s Skandi Vinland vessel to replace the flawed flowline connector.
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.
According to Guardian, a second major oil spill occurred in the Solomon Islands bay turning the sea water red; The affected area is the same where Solomon Trader ran aground due to unexpected gale at Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, on 4 February, causing an environmental disaster.
New Zealand authorities have initiated an oil spill response operation at Three Kings Islands, at the north part of the country, after a fishing vessel reported oil on fishing gear and on a small number of sea birds in the area Monday, according to Maritime new Zealand.
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.
Canada’s Minister of transport, Marc Garneau, announced that the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act (Bill C-48) has received Royal Assent. According to the Act, oil tankers transferring crude and persistent oils as cargo from stopping, loading or unloading at ports or marine installations in northern British Columbia. The Act aims to protect, to some level, the area’s marine ecosystems, which are vulnerable to the developing marine shipping.
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.
New Zealand’s Cabinet has approved the mid-point review of the Oil Pollution Levy (OPL) to reflect updated risk and to ensure Maritime NZ can deliver on the current Marine Oil Spill Readiness and Response Strategy. The OPL funds New Zealand’s maritime oil pollution preparedness and response system.
Partners launched a remediation program in protection of island ecosystems from damage caused by oil pollution from World War II wrecks sunk in the Pacific Ocean in Newcastle Harbour. The ones participating in the project are Major Projects Foundation, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the University of Newcastle.
The US Coast Guard announced that it is responding to a report of a 32-foot sailing vessel grounded off Magic Island, on June 13. Pollution responders are also on scene assessing the area, as there is a maximum potential fuel load of 27 gallons of diesel aboard. A slight sheen was reported but is expected to dissipate naturally.
