Oil Spill Blog

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.

Popularity: 12% [?]

The negative impact that dirty bilge water has on the marine environment is dreadful. With the help of efficient bilge management techniques, we can prevent oily bilge water from entering into the sea and contaminating the water, which in turn prevent the harm caused to the marine life.

Dumping oily bilge water into the sea is against the law, since it poses threat to the marine life. Recently the chief engineer of a cargo ship had been fined up to 250,000 million dollars for having dumped oil contaminated waste in area waters.

To minimize the destructive effect of oily bilge water, proper bilge water handling becomes mandatory. Discharge of bilge water from the marinas is a common practice. It is illegal unless the marinas hold a NPDES Individual Permit for Industrial Discharges.

As a part of legal bilge water handling practices, it is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that boat owners at their marinas are provided with proper bilge water discharge options, such as oil absorbent pads which absorb oil from the bilge water. Oil absorbent pads require to be replaced quite often and also need to safely disposed.

In case of larger boats, oil spill booms will come in handy. Use of a vacuum system pump can help in efficient removal of bilge water by pumping it into drums for later disposal. These drums should be carefully stored, until they are picked up for off-site treatment.

With bilge oil filters, bilge water can be cleaned even before it is being discharged. Treating bilge water onsite with a portable oil/water separator is advisable. Another effective method of bilge water handling is using Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200. This bilge cleaner removes oil from bilge water through bioremediation. MEPC defines bio-remediation as the environmentally friendly response to an oil spill. The simple and effective way of bilge water handling is to pour this bilge cleaner into the access points of your bilge to prevent oil contamination in water.

Popularity: 6% [?]