Chemical spills occur at a much lower frequency than spills of oil. However, the consequence of a chemical spill can be more wide reaching than that of oil and there is growing international…
Containing floating oil within booms for recovery by specialised skimmers is often seen as the ideal solution to a spill at sea as this aims to physically remove oil from the marine environment. As…
Once oil is spilled at sea, it will naturally spread, fragment and disperse under the influence of wind, waves and currents. For spills in coastal waters, the oil will often drift towards the…
When oil is spilled at sea it normally spreads out and moves on the sea surface with wind and current while undergoing a number of chemical and physical changes. These processes are collectively…
The effects of oil spills can have wide ranging impacts that are often portrayed by the media as long lasting environmental disasters. Such perceptions are understandable as they are often fuelled…
Careful planning is essential to effectively prepare for oil spills. Developing a strategy and an operational plan before the event will result in a far more efficient and considered response. …
The recent high-profile incident involving the crude oil tanker, SANCHI, in the East China Sea has focused attention on the potential hazards of transporting condensate by sea. Ship-source spills…
As the average sea ice cover in the Arctic decreases, northern seaways are opening up, offering alternative trade routes between Asia and Europe. The Northern Sea Route shows particular promise,…
ITOPF works throughout the world with intergovernmental bodies and national governments and their agencies to promote effective response to marine spills of oil, chemicals and HNS. These…
Most oils float on the sea surface where they are spread over a wide area by currents, wind and waves. Depending on the type of oil, it may disperse into the top few metres of the water column.…
