An oil spill/pollution includes the accidental or deliberate, operational spills of oil from ships, especially tankers, offshore platforms and pipelines.
Effects on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
- Biodiversity loss: For ex. Exxon Valdez spill killed an estimated 250,000 sea birds.
- Food chain disruption:
- Bioaccumulation (accumulation of chemicals in an organism) of toxic substances.
- Affects photosynthesis of phytoplankton.
Oil Pollution remedies
- Standard SoPs: Safe barrel handling procedures and use of doubly walled equipments.
- Bioremediation (use of living organisms in the removal of contaminants): For e.g., Oilzapper and Oilivorous-S.
- Use of Booms and Skimmers: to limit spread and to remove oil spills.
- Booms are physical barriers that slow the spread of oil and keep it contained.
- Skimmers are boats deployed to remove the oil.
Laws and Conventions
- International
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
- International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992
- OPRC (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation) 1990
- National
- National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan, 1996
- The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
- The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986