Furnace oil from Titanium factory spills into sea

In News: On Kerala coast, 2000 litres of furnace oil leaked from Travancore Titanium Products (TTP) factory.

(Image Source: TH)

What is an Oil Spill?

• It is an accidental leakage of petroleum products either from ships or offshore industries.
• As the oil floats and spreads across the ocean, it creates multiple hazards.

Reasons of Oil leakage

• Ship Accidents: Ships carry oil as fuel and as transport goods. Their accident may cause a major oil spill as seen in Mauritius.
• Industrial Leakage: Offshore industries may also be a cause of oil spill. Often due to neglect of Safety Protocols such incidences happen. Eg. Recent Kerala Leakage, Venezuela Leakage of 2020, etc.
• Other reasons:  Ship Ballast, Cleaning Water, Sewage discharge

Dangers of Oil Spill

• Harm to Marine Flora and Fauna: The evaporating fumes kills birds and other surface animals due to suffocation.
  • It also disturbs the food chain, light and oxygen level of ocean water and adversely affects phytoplankton, zooplankton, etc.
  • The oil gets stuck on the body surface obstructing respiration, flying capability, vision, etc.
  • Damage to coral reef ecosystem due to sinking oil to the sea bed.
• Beach Sand: It converts beach sand in dark lumps glued by oil called Tar Balls.
  • Toxic complex compounds are also reported from beaches polluted with oil.
  • It reduces aesthetic and touristic value of beaches
• Inhabitants: Economic loss to Fisherman, Tourist Industry and other professionals.
  • Health hazard to tourists and nearby dwellers
• Environment: Groundwater pollution due to seeping Oil near beaches
  • Chances of fire hazard.
  • Ocean Water slowly turns into toxic emulsion

Past incidences

• International Incidence in 2020: Oil leakage from the El Palito refinery in Venezuela
  • Japanese ship MV Wakashio carrying fuel oil split into two parts near Blue Bay Marine Park in south-east Mauritius.
  • Russia: Arctic (Norilsk diesel fuel spill) Oil Spill

• Indian incidences of past: Chennai 2017: Two ships collided off Kamarajar Port Limited’s (KPL) harbour and resulted in a major oil spill disaster.
  • Sundarban 2014: Oil spill in Sela River, Bangladesh created an environmental concern for India too.
  • ONGC Uran Plan leaked oil in Arabian Sea in 2013.
  • Mumbai coast 2010: Two ships collided causing the 800 tonnes of oil spill.

Preventive and Control measures for Oil Spills

• Stringent Norms of safety for Ships and Tankers: An international common standard must be arrived and implemented for the Transport and Shipping Industry.
• Proper Implementation of the existing laws.
• Extra attention while installing pipes
• National disaster mitigation plan for Oil Spills should be announced.
  • 24×7 deployment of an emergency team which can isolate the spread of oil spill as soon as possible using floating barriers called Booms.
  • Development of Standard Operating Procedures in case of mishaps.
  • Mock Drills
• Use of Science and Technology:
  • Bioremediation: Bacteria used to clean surface oil. Eg Oil Zapper by TERI.
  • Emulsifiers: Better biodegradable emulsifiers may also be used for better mitigation of problems.
  • Bio sponge: can absorb oil.
  • Vacuum Trucks for mechanical suction
• Post disaster plans should also be rolled out for effective restoration of corals and flora-fauna.

International Efforts for curtailing Oil Pollution

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL): Rolled out by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1973

• •  It recognised need for international coherent efforts for curbing oil spill
• International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation 1990
  • Nearly 90 countries came up after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, 1989 to prepare an emergency plan under IMO.
  • Creates a special fund out of contribution of shipping companies
• Double Hull Ruling, 1993 by IMO: As per these guidelines,
  • By July 1993, all tankers must have double hulls for additional safety.
  • All single-hulled ships must be phased out by 1995.

Indian Efforts for dealing with Oil Spill

• National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP):
  • Promulgated in 1996 and revised in 2015
  • Nodal Agency for coordination: Coastal Guards
  • Objectives:
    • Effective reporting of spillage
    • Prompt response to prevent, control and combat oil pollution
    • Adequate protection to Public Health and Welfare along with Marine Environment
    • Use of Science and Technology for preventing and managing oil spills and pollutions and residuals.
• Research and Development
  • TERI has developed Oil Zapper Bacteria which can degrade the oil quickly.
• Coastal Cleanup Day under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Conclusion and Way Ahead:

The oil spill causes an irreversible damage to the environment. Hence international and national solidarity must be ensured with organisations like IMO, Coastal Guard, etc at centre. Such joint efforts will ensure the compliance with Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species and UN systems.

 It can be achieved by

• More research and development on Ballast, Sludge and other modes of pollution.
• Budget Allocation for cleaning coasts, Deep Ocean Mission  and similar other marine dedicated portals
• Involvement and empowering local communities in disaster mitigation
• Implementing advice of agencies like Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.

Source: TH