![]() ![]() ISB proved to be a highly effective technique in responding to the disaster. When the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig caught fire and sank in April 2010, oil gushed from the seabed and caused the largest accidental oil spill in history. In-situ burning (ISB) is also used to tackle uncontrolled oil leaks, where a lot of oil is spilling fast. In Arctic or ice-covered waters, for example, it might be the only option. In certain conditions, burning the oil off the water's surface can be the most appropriate method. Even when that is the case, the specialized vessels needed for the process can make this an expensive and logistically challenging method. It seems like a simple method, but it only works when the oil stays in one place - and under the right conditions. Booms were used to prevent oil from spreading after the Grande America cargo ship burned and sank in the Bay of Biscay Image: AFP/Marine Nationale Having been processed, the oil can even be reused. Once it is contained, boats equipped with so-called skimmer machines can suck up the oil and separate it from the water. This is done using booms, which act like a barrier to prevent the oil from spreading. One method of controlling oil spills at sea, which was used after the Grande America cargo vessel sank in March 2019 some 300 kilometers (186 miles) off the French coast, is essentially scooping up the oil from the water's surface. This means that for cleanup action to be most effective, it should happen very quickly after a spill, before the oil disperses. "If you wanted to remove all traces of oil, the techniques available become increasingly aggressive the less oil that remains."īecause oil normally has a lower density than water, it floats on the surface of the ocean. You can risk causing further damage," said Nicky Cariglia, an independent consultant at Marittima, who specializes in marine pollution. "Once the oil comes to shore, the more intensive the cleaning technique. It depends on several factors, including the type and amount of oil in question, location and weather conditions. So what can be done to tackle them? With a lower density than water, oil generally floats on the surface of the ocean Image: David McNew/AFP/Getty Images ![]() The number of oil spills has decreased dramatically over recent decades, but they do still happen and often impact marine wildlife. The ship, which was on its way to the Netherlands, was carrying around 200 tons of heavy fuel oil, 250 tons of diesel and 27 tons of lubricating oil. Fuel oil is leaking from a cargo ship near the Bay of Gibraltar at the southern tip of Spain, following a collision with a liquefied natural gas tanker.Īlthough the environmental impact is not yet clear, authorities say only a small amount of oil has spilled into the water and that the situation is under control.
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