Oil Slick

EMSA Assists in Spanish Oil Recovery Operations

Due to the heavy weather in the area, the bulk carrier Fedra sustained engine failure, dragged anchor and ran aground off Europa Point, , following which it lodged against a cliff and subsequently broke up. Several hours later, the bulk carrier Tawe ran aground near the . Both vessels have limited quantities of bunker fuel on board, and the leakage of oil is putting the environment in the vicinity of the vessels under threat. Since Sunday Oct 12, the EMSA vessel Bahia Tres has been involved in locating oil slicks with its onboard oil slick detection system and, more importantly, has been recovering patches of oil and smaller slicks where ever possible. So far, the operation has met with success, and a number of tons of oil have already been recovered, thus reducing the environmental damage caused by the accident.

Oil Slick Threatens Danish Coast

Massive oil slicks threatened to pollute the Danish coast on Thursday after a tanker collided with a freighter in the Baltic Sea, creating one of the biggest oil leaks ever to foul Danish waters. "The leak is one of the biggest we have seen. We are preparing to prevent oil pollution hitting the Danish coast," a coastguard spokesman said. Six ships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden were on their way to try to contain the oil, coastguards said

Officials Fear Environmental Repercussion From Sunken Tanker

A giant oil slick from the sunken tanker Erika drifted and widened off the northwestern French coast on Dec. 14, and officials worry that changing winds could push it towards land. A spokesman for maritime authorities said the slick from the broken up tanker Erika, estimated at 9,000 to 10,000 tons of viscous fuel oil, was extending as it absorbed seawater. Officials insisted that ecological disaster cannot be ruled out on the Brittany coast

Tanker Stranded in Guimaras Waters

The Sun Star has reported that another spill of bunker fuel is feared to have happened in Guimaras seas in the Philippines after Coast Guard authorities discovered a motor tanker got stranded due to navigational problems Saturday. Coast Guard officials found the crewmen of M/T Petro Clarissa stuck in Siete Picados Saturday after the vessel suffered navigation problems. Coast Guard Deputy Commander Bon Dan Chan said the vessel, loaded with one million liters of regular fuel

USCG Estimates 10-12 Days to Stop Barataria Bay Spill

According to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Coast Guard estimated it will take 10 to 12 days to seal a ruptured wellhead spewing oil and natural gas into Barataria Bay along Louisiana's south coast. The wellhead was ruptured early July 27 when a barge collided with it. An oil slick covering six square miles had spread from the wellhead by Wednesday. (Source: Reuters)

Rutter Partners on $2m Order, Integrated Oil Spill Solution

Canadian based Rutter Technologies, a division of Rutter Inc. (TSX:RUT), and its Norwegian partner, Aptomar AS, announced orders for six Integrated Oil Spill Response and Management Systems. This comes on the heels of the recent certification of the technology by the Norwegian Clean Seas Association (NOFO) following the conclusion of trials in June. The Integrated Oil Spill Response and Management System provides operators with real-time information about the volume and thickest areas of an

Marine Polluter Gets Fined

A Newfoundland and Labrador provincial court judge has ordered the Motor Vessel (MV) Project Europa to pay a $70,000 penalty for violations of the Canada Shipping Act associated with the unlawful discharge of an oily substance into Canadian waters. On August 23, 2003, a Government of Canada marine pollution surveillance flight detected a slick in the wake of MV Project Europa, a cargo ship registered in the Netherlands and owned by Biglift Goedkoop B.V.of Amsterdam

Canada to get Tough on Marine Polluters

Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre announced the purchase of new marine pollution aerial surveillance equipment that will significantly strengthen Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program. The $2.3 million contract will cover the purchase of the equipment, as well as the on-board crew training. "The Government of Canada is committed to preventing pollution from ships and to continuously enhancing the protection of our marine environment," said Mr. Lapierre

PVA Tells Members: Losses from Oil Spill May Be Compensable

The Passenger Vessel Association reminded its members on the gulf coast that economic losses from the BP oil spill may be compensable. As the spill continues and spreads, it may inflict harm upon PVA members in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.  These members may be able to obtain compensation from either British Petroleum or the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.   The federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted following the Exxon Valdez spill

AFRAS to Present Rescue Awards September 22

The Association for Rescue at Sea, Inc. (AFRAS) will hold its annual awards ceremony and reception on September 22, 2011.  The event will take place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C. and will be co-hosted by the Honorable Howard Coble, co-chairman, U.S. Congressional Coast Guard Caucus.  AFRAS will award the Gold medal and the Amver (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System) plaque for outstanding rescues made in 2010