Tanker Oil Spills Notches New 5-year Low
A new five-year low in oil spills from tankers reported by the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), as the average for 2010-2014 falls to 1.8 large spills per year.
During the year, ITOPF recorded 1 large spill of bitumen (over 3,000 MT) from a tanker in the South China Sea, and 4 medium spills of various oil types, totaling 5 spills of 7 tonnes and over.
Interestingly, a number of tanker incidents reported in the media in 2014 involved fire and explosion, where potentially significant quantities of cargoes and bunker fuel burned. The cargoes involved included condensate, diesels and fuel oils.
"For the last two and a half decades the average number of incidents involving oil spills from tankers has progressively halved, with the current figures showing the lowest yet, at less than two per year," ITOPF stated in a press release.
A number of tanker incidents reported in the media in 2014 involved fire and explosion, where potentially significant quantities of cargoes and bunker fuel burned. The cargoes involved included condensate, diesels and fuel oils.
"At a time when focus on protecting the marine environment is high, this trend should provide encouragement to tanker owners. It is also a testament to the ongoing work by industry and governments to maintain high standards of operations in sea-borne transportation," stated in the release.
ITOPF maintains a database of oil spills from tankers, combined carriers and barges. This contains information on accidental spillages since 1970, except those resulting from acts of war.