Oil Spill Blog

For the first ever commercial oil spill that one can recall is the incident when the tanker Torrey Canyon ran aground off Cornwall on March 18, 1967 in the United Kingdom spilling 80,000 tones (119,000 barrels) of crude. Though this oil spill happened way back in 1967 the scenario today is also pretty much the same. Though the recent Gulf oil spill and the Singapore tanker oil spill may not entirely be caused by the vessels, it just calls our attention to the very notable fact, pollution from vessels.

According to a report released in 1980, of the 3.2 million tonnes of oil released into the ocean, almost half of it was from vessels. This estimation will help you get an idea on how grave this issue is. Accidental oil spills from tankers and commercial vessels, deliberate or operational discharges from commercial vessels, grounded and abandoned vessels are some of the most common.

Vessels also play a significant role in increasing global warming as over 90 percent of the global trade is carried through ships. It is estimated that ships in particular would be accountable for about 40% of the air pollution over land in addition to the 3.5% to 4% of all climate change emissions.

Discharge of ballast water when loading and unloading of cargo near the port is a major reason for pollution near the coasts. Apart from contaminating the sea with tar balls the ballast water also threatens ecology by introducing foreign species of organisms into the water. The discharged water also contains human effluents which when released can cause serious damage to the environment.

One simple method that can minimize marine pollution to a great extent is the usage of eco-friendly bioremediation product like Oil Gone Easy S-200 to clean the oily bilge water and immediate oil spill remediation in case of accidental oil spills.

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The recent oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico has caught everyone’s attention around the globe. With the situation getting worse by the day creating, it has raised concern from everywhere. The catastrophe began with the sinking of the rig followed by the explosion. Later, it was discovered that there were two leaks which were actually leaking 5,000 barrels of oil per day greatly threatening the ecosystem as well as the livelihood of those who depend on the marine resources.

Have you ever wondered as to how the crew goes about containing and cleaning an oil spill of such high volume? There are various factors, such the spontaneous response of the crew, the intensity of oil spill, the techniques used in oil spill cleanup, and weather conditions, which affect the whole process.

In case of any oil spill, the containment and skimming method for oil spill cleanup greatly depends on how early the crew manages to reach the site. Use oil spill booms to prevent the oil from spreading and enable easy skimming of oil with the help of boats is one method used. These orange booms work as a barrier and stop the oil from spreading. But these booms often prove futile during unfavorable weather conditions.

Any new inventions, such as waste hair balls, straw gobs, and dried mushroom-bit, which may seem innovative and effective, will not help in immediate recovery as most of them are not approved by the government and they cannot meet the immediate logistic needs as well. Dispersants are also used as an oil spill remediation method. But the drawback with such dispersants is that most of them are kerosene-based and hence toxic.

Of all the techniques, bioremediation can be termed as the most reliable and safe method for oil spill cleanup. Since water and air are warmer throughout the year in the Gulf of Mexico, it will only speed the bioremediation process.

One such EPA-approved bioremediation product that not only aids in oil spill containment, but also in removing oil stains from clothes, shoes, boat, and land, is Oil Gone Easy S-200.

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As the whole world is busy thinking of a solution to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, here comes the Singapore oil spill. Though not as disastrous as the Gulf Oil spill, it has equally raised concerns regarding our take on the bendable rules and regulations.

The collision of an oil tanker and the bulk carrier in the deep waters between Singapore and Malaysia has raised questions about the oil transportation norms. In Singapore oil spill, the sea has been polluted with almost 5000 tons of crude oil, resulting in the closure of 4.3 miles of the coastline.

As the scale of pollution was minor, the oil spill cleanup operations measures seem to have worked here. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority who took up the daunting task of cleaning up oil spill now claim that the waters at Changi and the East Coast have “returned to normal.”

For oil spill cleanup, they incorporated several methods. They tried to contain the oil spill by sucking up the spilled oil in the empty containers of MT Bunga Kelana 3. The Pengerang waters were also safeguarded with three boats as a safety measure. The Malaysian and the Singapore water ways were also put under constant watch such that no new boats enter the oil spill area and further spread the pollution.

Around 20 vessels and 200 personnel were employed for oil spill cleanup. For oil spill containment, booms are also lined up near the oil tanker. And most of all, they used biodegradable cleaners to break up the oil. The warm temperature of the tropics seems to have worked for dispersal of oil.

The Government of Singapore and Malaysia has undoubtedly done a good job using biodegradable dispersants. It’s not too late for BP, who still appears to be at loss about dealing with the oil spill cleanup. It would be a wise decision to go in for biodegradable products like Oil Gone Easy S-200.

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It is generally erroneously believed by nearly all that big tanker oil spills are the major contributor to the oil pollution that occur in the world’s oceans. But, did you know that spills resulting from engine oil changes on land, leak nearly nine times the amount of oil spilled from tankers into the sea?

While global awareness is concentrated more on the devastating marine oil spills, including the very recent spill that happened in Gulf of Mexico, less attention – indeed practically no attention is paid to the deleterious effects of small spills.

From the environmental experts’ perspective, mini oil spills that occur on land contribute a considerable percentage to the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants that reach the oceans. Though unbelievable, it is a fact that the mini spills that occur on land in North America over a period of eight months, when put together, create a volume of oil that almost equalizes with the Alaskan Exxon Valdez spill that happened in 1989. Can you guess the exact volume of oil? It is something you would never have dreamed of. Yes, it is an astonishing 10.8 million gallons or 250,000 barrels of petroleum.

The land-based oil spills that occur accidentally, which we actually tend to ignore are actually the ones that require special attention. It is solely because these oil pollutants reach the water bodies when it rains. A research by the National Research Council states that, even an oil spill as small as five quarts can degrade the quality of millions of gallons of water.

With such devastating effects, this problem definitely calls for a timely solution. To safeguard our environment from the threat posed from such spills and oil stains on pavement a lot depends on us. For instance, if there are any accidental spills at home, immediate remediation or removing oil stains using eco-friendly products, such as Oil Gone Easy S-200 should be initiated. By adopting such eco-friendly methods of effective oil stain removal, you’ll reduce the chances of this environmental hazard to a great extent.

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It is a known fact that the world’s oceans cover more than 70% of our planet’s surface. But what very few of us realize is that these precious resources are under catastrophic threat from several sources, including industrial, agricultural, and human activities. In view of showing appreciation to this precious resource of ours, for the first time in 1992, the Canadian government came up with the idea of World Oceans Day at the Earth Summit in Rio.

Since 1992, many countries across the globe have joined hands to celebrate the World Oceans Day on June 8th every year. The theme of this day “Our Oceans, Our Responsibility” is in itself an eye-opener of sorts. It is a call to all of us to do our bit for protecting the oceans.

You too can take part in World Oceans Day and contribute to the noble mission of protecting the oceans. Just keep in mind some of these tips and you for sure would have made a great difference!

• Equip your boats with proper bilge discharge options and avoid dumping oily bilge water into the sea.

• Be very careful while changing and refueling oil in your boat and prevent any accidental oil spills.

• For bilge cleaning and accidental oil spill cleanup use of eco-friendly cleaners, such as Oil Gone Marine S-200 would be the best bet. S-200 can be the safest method you can think of, for it uses bioremediation technology to break down the oil and convert it into carbon dioxide and water.

• Even in your garage or anywhere in your home, avoid the use of toxic chemicals and detergents to remove oil spills or leaks from. Instead, consider using green products, such as Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200.

• Minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers in your garden and ensure proper disposal of construction residual thereby reduce pollution from storm water runoff.

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