TIP 17: Response to marine chemical incidents

The volume of chemicals transported by sea continues to increase year by year and, as a result, there is growing international awareness of the need for the development of safe and effective contingency arrangements for responding to chemical spills. However, the wide variety of chemicals, their varying physical properties and different behaviour once spilt and the potential for effects on human health and the marine environment mean that preparedness and response arrangements for chemical spills are far more complex than for oil spills.

This paper provides an introduction to the issues involved in responding to chemical spills and addresses the range of hazards present, the behaviour of chemicals when spilt at sea and briefly reviews available response options.

Categories: HNS, Technical Information Paper (TIPS)