Oil Spill and its effect on Environment and Damage Control.

Oil spills happen when people make mistakes or are careless and cause an oil
tanker to leak oil into the ocean. There are a few more ways an oil spill can
occur. Equipment breaking down may cause an oil spill. If the equipment
breaks down, the tanker may get stuck on shallow land. When they start to drive
the tanker again, they can put a hole in the tanker causing it to leak oil.

When countries are at war, one country may decide to dump gallons of
oil into the other country’s oceans.

Terrorists may cause an oil spill because they will dump oil into a
country’s ocean. Many terrorists will do this because they are trying to get the
country’s attention, or they are trying to make a point to a country.

Illegal dumpers are people that will dump crude oil into the oceans
because they do not want to spend money on decomposing their waste oil.
Because they won’t spend money on breaking up the oil (decomposing it) they
will dump oil into the oceans, which is illegal.

Natural disasters (like hurricanes) may cause an oil spill, too. If a

hurricane was a couple of miles away, the winds from the hurricane could cause
the oil tanker to flip over, pouring oil out.

An oil spill is a release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment

due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term often refers to
marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters. Oil spills
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include releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs and
wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as gasoline, diesel)
and their by-products, and heavier fuels used by large ships such as bunker fuel,
or the spill of any oily refuse or waste oil. Spills may take months or even years
to clean up.

Anatomy of an oil spill: Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with

the initial appearance and consistency of thick dirty used oil. When crude oil is
released into the sea a number of physical and chemical changes occur:

The oil initially floats in a layer up to several inches thick at the water surface
which is spread and moved by wind and water currents. Immediately, more
volatile components begin to separate and disperse into the atmosphere and
water soluble components (called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)
leach into the surrounding water. Lighter insoluble components form thin films
that spread and move more extensively than the thicker oil. The warmer the sea
and air temperature, the more rapidly these components separate. Wave action
separates the mass into smaller areas and patches, and eventually into smaller
globules, some of which emulsify (‘mix’) with seawater. Oil-water emulsion
has the characteristic tan- yellow color often seen in floating oil slicks.
Dispersants (detergent like substances) distributed to break up the oil slick
facilitate the formation of emulsions, distributing the oil as droplets of oil and
emulsion throughout the water column.

As the lighter components dissolve, the remaining oil develops a thick gooey
consistency, and breaks into pieces anywhere from mm to several cm diameters.
Depending on the temperature, water content and the surface to volume ratio of
these globules, they may remain buoyant, become suspended in the water
column, or sink to the bottom. The ‘oil slick’ therefore contains a number of
components, thick mats of oil, oily films, oil/water emulsions, particles and
lumps (tar balls) that may float or sink and material dissolved in the water
below and dispersed into the air above. This mixture of components becomes
progressively more dispersed and difficult to contain as time goes by, and as
wave action and temperature have their effect.

As the slick approaches the shore, some of the denser oily components (‘tar’)
become mixed with sand, mud and floating debris forming ‘tar balls’ with
variable buoyancy and mobility. These particles may be mixed into the bottom
sediments, roll around on the bottom, or wash up on the beach or marsh. In
warm climates, tar balls may melt on hot days, break up, remix and harden
again, continually breaking up and releasing additional soluble and volatile
components.

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Although the majority of spilled oil remains floating at or near the sea surface,
components may be spread throughout the marine environment, water column,
bottom and bottom sediments, and shoreline habitats.

Components of an oil spill

 Floating crude oil
 Lighter insoluble components in water films
 Soluble toxic components dissolved in seawater
 Volatile components in atmosphere
 Floating emulsions of oil and seawater
 Particles and globules of oil and emulsion floating, suspended and sunk
 Oil, films, emulsion and tar coating marine substrates and organisms
 Oil, emulsion, and tar buried in marine and coastal sediments
 Tar balls, floating and buried in underwater and coastal sediments

Environmental Impact of Oil Spills: The seriousness of spills varies with the
amount, the type of oil, and the location. Visible signs of a spill generally
vanish in a relatively short time, but local plants and animals may be hurt, and
the diversity of species is sometimes affected. Spilled crude and other oil
products may affect organisms both directly through physical and toxicological
processes, and indirectly through habitat impacts, food-chain disruption and
alteration to their community. The magnitude of the impact varies depending on
the type of product spilled, the climate and flow dynamics of the system
receiving the spill, and the response measures taken.

Since oil is comprised of hydrocarbons essentially the remains of ancient

organisms the moment it is spilled into water it begins to weather and degrade.
Weathering is a natural process that breaks down the oil through physical and
chemical changes: spreading, evaporation, dispersion, emulsification,
biodegradation, dissolution, oxidation, and sedimentation. Spills close to the
shoreline tend to have the greatest immediate impact because more diverse
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forms of life may come into contact with the oil. In addition to ecological
concerns, shoreline spills can affect the air quality, due to the hydrocarbon
gases and sulphur compounds present in the oil, and are also a potential fire
hazard. They will also depress recreational areas, harbours, industries,
commercial fishing grounds and tourist attractions.

The rate at which oil spills spread will determine the effect on the environment.
Most oils tend to spread horizontally into a smooth and slippery surface, called
a slick, on top of the water. Factors which affect the ability of oil to spread
include surface tension, specific gravity, and viscosity. The severity of the
impact of an oil spill depends on several factors, including characteristics of the
oil itself. Natural conditions, water temperature, weather and wind conditions
also influence the behaviour of oil in aquatic environment. Various types of
habitats have differing sensitivities to oil spills. Some lighter substances in the
oil spill may evaporate quickly. Therefore, plant, animal, and human exposure
to the most toxic substances is reduced with time, and usually limited to the
initial spill area. Although some organisms may be seriously injured or killed
very soon after contact with the oil in a spill, non-lethal toxic effects can be
more subtle and often long lasting. For example, aquatic life on reefs and
shorelines is at risk of being smothered by oil that washes ashore. It can also be
poisoned slowly by long-term exposure to oil trapped in shallow waters on
beaches.

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Effect of Oil on Marine Organisms: The extent of damage caused by an oil
spill depends upon the quantity of the oil spilled, the type of oil, and the
prevailing oceanographic and meteorological conditions there. When oil spills
in a large quantity it temporarily affects the air-sea interaction, thus preventing
the entry of oxygen from the atmosphere. The first set of organisms to be
affected is the primary producers, such as phytoplankton, which is the base of
the marine food chain. Other free swimming organisms such as fish larvae, and
fish, are also affected. When they come in contact with the oil, the gills of the
fish are clogged by the oil, which prevents their breathing and kills them. If the
oil spill occurs in an enclosed area and the surface remains undisturbed by
winds and other oceanographic conditions, the water below becomes
deoxygenated due to the absence of air-sea interaction. This causes the mass
mortality of inhabiting organisms due to lack of oxygen for respiration.
Furthermore, when the oil eventually sinks it affects the benthic organisms such
as clams, and mussels, as tar particles are deposited in the mantle of these
organisms, arresting their physiological activities including respiration. Spilled
oil can also damage parts of the food chain, including human food resources.
Aquatic environments are made up of complex interrelations between plant and
animal species and their physical environment. Harm to the physical
environment will often affect one or more species in a food chain. The effect an
oil spill is likely to have on an organism is dependent on the coastal
environment in which the organism spends most of its life, for example in open
water, near coastal areas, or on the shoreline. In case of fire the organisms are
killed by high temperatures and burning gases. In open water, fish and whales
have the ability to swim away from a spill by going deeper in the water or
further out to sea, reducing the likelihood of their being harmed even by a major
spill. Aquatic animals that generally live closer to shore, such as turtles, seals,
and dolphins, risk contamination by oil that washes on to beaches or by
consuming oil contaminated prey. In shallow waters, oil may harm sea grasses
and kelp beds, which are used for food, shelter, and nesting sites by different
species. The most affected are the submerged and sessile organisms such as
corals, and the organisms inhabiting the inter-tidal area. Both, of these have the
richest biodiversity and density in any given area. Spilled oil and cleaning
operations can also threaten different types of aquatic habitats, with varying
degree of impact. Some of them are listed below:

 Coral reefs are important nurseries for shrimps, fish, and other animals as
well as recreational attractions for divers. Coral reefs and the aquatic
organisms that live within and around them are at risk from exposure to
the toxic substances in oil as well as smothering.

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  Exposed sandy, gravel, or pebble beaches are usually cleaned by manual
techniques. Although oil can soak into sand and gravel, only a very few
organisms live full-time in this habitat, so the risk to animal life or the
food chain is far less compared to tidal flats, for instance.
 Sheltered beaches have very little wave action to encourage natural
dispersion. If timely cleaning is not done, oil may remain stranded on
these beaches for years.
 Tidal flats are broad, low-tide zones, usually containing rich plant,
animal and bird communities. Deposited oil may seep into the muddy
bottoms of these flats, creating potentially harmful effects on the ecology
of the area.
 Salt marshes are found in sheltered waters in cold and temperate areas.
They host a variety of plant, bird, and mammal life. Marsh vegetations,
especially their root systems, are easily damaged by fresh light oils.
 Mangrove forests are located in tropical regions and are home to diverse
plant and animal life. Mangrove trees have long roots, called prop roots,
which stick out well above the water level to hold the mangrove tree in
place. A coating of oil on these prop roots can be fatal to the mangrove
tree and, because they grow so slowly, replacing a mangrove tree may
take decades.
 Marshes and swamps, with little water movement, are likely to incur
more severe impacts than flowing water. In calm water conditions, the
affected habitat may take years to restore.
 Other standing water bodies, such as inland lakes, and backwaters are
home to a variety of birds, mammals and fish. The human food chain can
be adversely affected by spills in these environments.

Effects of Oil on Birds:

 Contact with crude oil causes their feathers to collapse and mat together.
This can severely hamper the ability of the bird to fly.
 There is a breakdown in thermal insulation - oiled birds often suffer from
hypothermia.
 Crude oil can also cause severe irritation of the skin.

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  Birds often ingest the toxic crude oil in an attempt to preen themselves.
They may also ingest oil via their prey if their food chain becomes
contaminated. The consumption of oil poisons the birds.

An oil spill in the sea, the effects on different parts of the spill on marine
organisms and ecosystems and the potential for long term recovery of
ecosystems. Oil spilled at sea breaks into many different chemical and physical
components that spread throughout the system floating, suspended in the water,
sunk to the bottom, buried in sediments and coating organisms and coastal
habitats. Marine organisms-plants and animals from smallest plankton to largest
whales, can be affected by both the physical and chemical impacts of oil, tar
and toxic oil compounds. While the immediate effects can be catastrophic, and
medium and long term effects last for years or decades and affect all parts of the
system, marine ecosystems are resilient and eventually recover.
Summary of oil spill effects:
 Crude oil separates into a variety of forms that distribute throughout the
marine environment.
 The longer the time, warmer the temperature and stronger the wave and
wind, the more dispersed into different components the oil becomes.
 These may have direct toxic effects.
 Toxic effects my directly kill an organism or may contaminate its tissue
and pass through the food chain to other organisms.
 Many components of a spill (liquid oil, emulsions, particles, tar balls)
have physical effects, blocking feeding, photosynthesis or respiration, or
compromising feathers and fur
 Dispersants may break up and prevent further spread of liquid oil, but do
not remove the oil from the system, which remains in solution, particles,
and emulsions. Dispersants may have their own toxic and physical
effects.

Consequences of marine oil spills: From the preceding information it is

obvious that the oil spill can cause extensive mortality throughout the marine
ecosystem from the basic foundations of phytoplankton, algae, coral and sea
grass to the largest and most mobile organisms. Additionally, the spill
contaminates the tissues of organisms and plants which then pass into the food
chain. These effects result from numerous different parts of the spill and
different mechanisms and affect the marine environment from the open ocean to
the shore and coastal estuaries and marshes.

Surprisingly, many studies suggest that while there is evidence of high

mortality of fish, birds, sea turtles etc. that the majority of these larger
organisms, and many smaller creatures, actually survive the early phases of the
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spill. Large mobile organisms like birds, fish and dolphins avoid the spill and
take advantage of gaps in the spill coverage. Many animals survive partial
exposure to oil, emulsion and tar. While the effects are unsightly, they may not
be immediately lethal.
Vulnerable marine organisms:
 Phytoplankton (single celled marine algae) -soluble toxins, entanglement
in emulsions, shading.
 Zooplankton -soluble toxins, emulsions.
 Sea grass and algae- shading, coating, toxins.
 Eggs and larvae of fish, crustaceans, mollusks-soluble toxins.
 Pelagic invertebrates (e.g. squid, jellyfish, salps)- toxins, reduction and
contamination of prey.
 Pelagic and coastal small fish- ingested particles, absorbed toxins
 Pelagic and coastal large fish- ecosystem effects, reduced productivity
and prey, tissue contamination.
 Mobile benthic and coastal invertebrates (e.g. crabs, shrimp, octopus,
conch, scallops)-toxicity, food contamination, coating, tissue
contamination.
 Fixed benthic and coastal invertebrates (e.g. mussels, oysters, corals)-
toxicity, coating, impaired feeding, ingestion, tissue contamination.
 Sea turtles- breathing, coating and ingestion of particles, food
(contamination of benthic invertebrates, algae and sea grass).
 Cetaceans (dolphins and whales) - breathing, coating and ingestion of
particles, reduction and contamination of prey.
 Manatees -breathing, coating and ingestion of particles, system effects-
Sea grass mortality.
 Birds-coating, ingestion, system effects food contamination.

More subtle medium term effects are the result of the disruption and
contamination of marine food chains. The failure of plankton, small prey fish
and invertebrates causes later problems of starvation, low birth weight, reduced
egg clutch size and reduced survival for predators in the upper levels of the
food web such as seals and seabirds. These effects may not appear for months
or until subsequent breeding seasons. Poisoning and shading of sea grass beds
results in reduced photosynthetic productivity on which a host of creatures
depend, and is followed by erosion in coastal waters when sediments are no
longer secured by sea grass roots. Similar effects can occur in coastal marshes
when emergent marsh grasses are covered and killed. These effects likely affect
fish and other commercially fished species but are more difficult to demonstrate
or prove.

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Longer term effects are poorly understood, but the removal of particular
vulnerable species from marine ecosystems may change the way the system
works- affecting ‘the balance of nature’. Persistent non-lethal effects of
contamination on reproduction are suspected to persist for years. These can be
exacerbated as storms and wave actions uncover oil and tar buried in coastal
sediments and beaches- re-exposing organisms to their effects.

System recovery: Despite these gloomy predictions, the effects of oil spills are
not permanent and complete. Marine systems show remarkable resiliency and
as the oil becomes sequestered in less active forms (tar balls, buried oil etc.) and
is broken down by sunlight and bacterial action, the systems recover. Survivors
reproduce and recolonize habitats. Some creatures adapt to tar and oil covered
substrates and some crabs and mollusks actually eat the tar and the bacteria and
fungi growing upon it, and aid its degradation. The oil in its several forms is
dispersed, diluted and broken down until only small pockets and particles
remain. Marine systems are by their very nature open- that is connected by the
sea, wind and currents to distant uncontaminated regions. Many marine
organisms have mobile life phases (floating eggs, larvae) that recolonize and re-
establish populations. Some of the creatures affected by a spill also routinely
suffer catastrophic mortality from other causes (e.g. some colonial nesting
seabirds) and are well adapted to recover. Large mobile animals like sharks, sea
turtles, large fish and whales that moved away from the spill move back.
Although there may be significant mortality of some of these animals, overall
the impact on their populations is usually not permanent.

In the well studied cases in the Arabian Gulf, Alaska (Exxon Valdez) and
English Channel (Torrey Canyon), the appearance of the system returned close
to normal within a few years. Although there was still oil and tar present in the
sediments, and continuing effects among the organisms there was visible
recovery of major parts of the system (sea grass beds, rocky intertidal habitats,
coral reefs). With the passage of time, approximately a decade or so, and
rebalancing of ecosystem and the creatures living in it, the system continues to
function and returns to productivity, fisheries recover and many of the
organisms are restored to their previous abundance. While such widespread
intense disruption may causes changes in the balance of nature- which species
are present and how numerous they are- nature itself survives. Although such
catastrophic events are very damaging and economically expensive at a human
scale, on an ecological time scale they are passing disruptions and on an
evolutionary timescale, barely perceptible.

The increase in density of marine traffic, especially oil tankers and petroleum
based installations in the proximity of Indian coast, are possible causes for
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occurrence of oil spills. Spill can occur from blow out, collision, grounding of
vessels and stranding. The developing countries like India should have
capabilities to combat eventual oil spills.

The National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan was prepared first time in
India by Coast Guard during 1996 with an objective to combat oil spill disaster
in Maritime zones of India. It has been updated in 2002. Coast Guard is the
National Agency for coordinating with various resource agencies in the event of
oil spills occurring in the seas around India. The Coast Guard has a capability to
deal with a major oil spill of approximately 20,000 tons in Exclusive Economic
Zone of India. (Coast Guard, 1996). In the National Contingency plan the
Department of Ocean Development has been entrusted with tasks such as
mapping of ecologically sensitive areas and carrying out scientific research in
effects of oil pollution.

Spills can happen on land or in water, at any time of day or night, and in any
weather condition. Preventing oil spills is the best strategy for avoiding
potential damage to human health and the environment.

Role of Contingency Plans: A contingency plan is a set of instructions that

outlines the steps that should be taken before, during, and after an emergency.
A contingency plan looks at all the possibilities of what could go wrong and
“contingent” upon actual events, has the contacts, resource lists, and strategies
to assist in the response to the spill. At a glance, an oil spill contingency plan
may appear complicated because it provides many details about the numerous
steps required to prepare for and respond to spills. It also covers many spill
scenarios and addresses different situations that may arise during or after a spill.
Despite its complexity, a well-designed contingency plan should be easy to
follow. Although they are different in many respects, contingency plans usually
have four major elements in common, (EPA, 1999) viz:
 Hazard identification
 Vulnerability analysis
 Risk assessment
 Response actions
Planners use hazard identification and vulnerability analysis to develop a risk
assessment. The risk assessment is then used as the basis for planning specific
response actions. Each of these four elements is described below:

Hazard identification: It is impossible to know when an oil spill is going to

happen and how much oil is likely to be spilled. However, it is possible to
identify where oil is stored, the corridors through which it travels, and the
industries that use large quantities of oil. Different situations can affect the
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ability of response personnel to contain and clean up an oil spill, such as
weather conditions, geographic isolation and spill size. Private companies and
local, state, and federal agencies design their contingency plans to address spills
from many locations and under different conditions. The following information
is usually collected as a part of hazard identification:
 Types of oils frequently stored in or transported through that area.
 Locations where oil is stored in large quantities and the mode of
transportation used to move the oil, such as pipelines, trucks, railroads, or
tankers.
 Extreme weather conditions that might occur in the area during different
times of the year.
 The location of response equipment and personnel trained to use the
equipment and respond to the spill.

Vulnerability/sensitivity analysis: The vulnerability analysis section of a

contingency plan provides information about resources and communities that
could be harmed in the event of a spill. This information helps personnel
involved in cleaning up a spill to identify reasonable, well-informed choices on
protecting public health and the environment. Vulnerability analysis
information should include the following:
 List of public safety officials in the community.
 List of facilities such as primary health centers, nursing homes and
hospitals.
 List of recreational areas, such as camp grounds.
 List of critical habitats that can be affected when spill occurs.
 Identification of parts of the environment that are particularly susceptible
to oil or water pollution.

Risk Assessment: Contingency planners compare the hazard and the

vulnerability in a particular location to see the kind of risk that is posed to a
community. The plan then addresses those problems by determining how best
to control the spill, how to prevent certain populations or environments from
exposure to oil, and what can be done to repair the damage done by the spill.

Response actions: Response actions are developed to address the risks that are
identified in the risk assessment. A carefully designed contingency plan will
describe major actions that need to be taken when a spill occurs. These actions
should take place immediately following a spill so as to minimize hazards to
human health and the environment. The following response actions should be
included in a contingency plan:
 Notifying all private companies or government agencies that are
responsible for the clean up effort.
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  Getting trained personnel and equipment to the site quickly.
 Defining the size, position and content of the spill; its direction and speed
of movement; and its likelihood of affecting sensitive habitats.
 Ensuring the safety of all response personnel and the public.
 Stopping the flow of oil from the ship, truck, or storage facility, if
possible, and preventing ignition.
 Containing the spill to a limited area.
 Removing the oil.
 Disposing of the oil once it has been removed from the water or land.

The Case Study: The 2010 Mumbai oil spill occurred after two Panamian-
flagged ships, MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia-III collided off the coast of India
near time. MSC Chitra, which was out borne Mumbai on 7.08.2010 at around
9:50 A.M local time from South Mumbai’s Nava Sheva port collided with the
inbound MV Khalijia-III which immediately threw out the oil containers from
MSC Chitra into the Arabian Sea. Khalijia-III was apparently involved with
another mishap on July 18, 2010.

MSC Chitra, registered in Panama, is owned by Mediterranean Shipping

Company, a public limited company based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its
management operations are conducted from Hong Kong. Khalijia, on the other
hand, is owned by Gulf Rock KSC, a Kuwait-based public limited company,
with management operations in Navi Mumbai. The company is listed on the
Kuwait Stock Exchange.

When the MSC Chitra collided with the Khalijia on 7.08.2010, it had a cargo of
1,219 containers holding 2662 tonnes of fuel, 283 tonnes of diesel and 88040
liters of lubricant oil. Thirty-one containers had pesticide in them. The Chitra
tilted sharply under the impact of the collision, resulting in the oil spill and
now, containers of pesticide bobbing off on the sea.

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The oil slick has been sighted on shore from Nariman Point to Cuffe Parade in
Mumbai, Vashi and Airoli in Thane district, Uran, Mandovi and Elephanta in
Raigad district. Elephanta and Navi Mumbai or BARC [Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre] are reportedly the only sites where mangroves have been
indicated to be affected. The Pollution Control Board has constituted four
survey teams with assistance of the Coast Guard and the district or local
administration, one each for Mumbai, Mumbai suburban, Thane and Raigad
districts. The Navy and the Coast Guards have been carrying out anti-pollution
operations every day to check and neutralize the oil spill. Six coastguard vessels
and a helicopter with anti-pollution dispersal spray systems were pressed into
service on 8th August 2010 to contain the oil spill.

Fishing associations have been also requested not to carry out any fishing
activities till the oil spill is contained. Officials are yet to locate the leakage.
The thick oil slick has been sighted two to three kms around the vessel Chitra.
As on 10th Aug 2010, traffic had been suspended as the containers were still
sighted floating into the channel thus making navigation hazardous.

But MSC Chitra was still tilted dangerously and there was no change in
situation. The oil patches off middle ground and islands of Elephanta and
butcher have been cleared off. The district collectors of Thane, Navi Mumbai
and Raigad have reported no sighting of oil on coast line. Pollution response
capable vessels are spraying oil spill dispersants. During aerial surveillance
concentrated residual oil patches have been sighted adjoining areas of BARC
and Sewri. Around 800 tonnes of oil is floating on the sea comes dangerously
close to the coast line.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has also been alerted by the
Coastguard to stop using sea water for cooling down purposes as the slick has
reached Sewree area where BARC is located. Hectic efforts continued to
combat the oil spill spanning around two miles in the Arabian Sea.

The Singapore-based Smit Company will begin operations to salvage the MSC
Chitra from August 11th 2010. But it may take nearly six to eight months
before the ship can be removed from the spot. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s
pumps can suck out oil at the rate of 30 metric tonnes an hour. The ship Chitra
was carrying 2662 metric tonnes of fuel when it started. Nearly 879 metric
tonnes has flown out. Besides, there are 283.8 tonnes of diesel and 88,040 liters
of lube oil on board. It is expected to take eight days to drain out the oil.

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Coast Guard officials said a crane called Sea Patriot C4 mounted on a ship has
been arranged and has been positioned close to Chitra to continuously pump out
the oil.

Impact of the Mumbai Oil Spill: The situation is chilling. A snake which
came in from the sea was covered in oil and chemicals and was struggling.
Neither could it go back into the sea as it is not filled with oil, nor could it
remain in the open in the baking sun. The oil spill has turned deadly. And it’s
not just this one snake.

Fishermen claim that their fishing nets in the sea are all covered with oil. No
one is willing to buy such fish. The marine life here is contaminated. This has
been confirmed by initial reports carried out by the state government. The oil
slick has even entered the sensitive mangrove belt. While the government is
working towards a swift clean up, environmentalists fear it may be too late.

The oil slick will enter the mangroves and mudflats and once that happens
nothing can be done to clean it up. Moreover it’s believed that India has the
technology or the intent.

Over 31 containers with hazardous chemicals are still missing and need to be
found. Debris can still be seen floating in the waters. The water around the
damaged MSC Chitra is clear but that is because the ship is in deep sea and the
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debris is getting washed ashore. But the fishermen claim there is no need to
panic. They are worried people will stop eating fish, affecting their business in
turn. The crisis related to the oil spill off Mumbai coast becomes bigger. Even
as mangroves turn black due to the oil slick and toxic chemical bottles get
washed ashore, at the Mumbai docks fish continues to be brought in and
hundreds of fishermen continue to go out to sea.

Loss due to spill: Four billion dollar of trade will be lost if the oil spill off the
Mumbai coast is not dealt with by the weekend. The situation has already
prompted exporters and importers to ask the government for financial relief.

The Response System: The collision of two large ships off the Mumbai coast
and the resulting oil spill has come as a test of India’s preparedness to handle
shipping disasters. A strong oil spill response system is of paramount
importance. Yet capacity-building efforts in major ports have not kept pace
with the need.

India has ratified key environmental and shipping conventions, including the
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and
Cooperation. The national coastline is about 7,500 km long and has, in the
assessment of the Coast Guard (CG), 11 major and 20 minor ports that must be
equipped to combat oil pollution. A few ships sink in Indian coastal waters
every year; in 2007, as many as five vessels with a total of 658 tonnes of oil
went down.

The serious concern for environment protection, particularly in the maritime

environment, calls for a urgent attention and adequate measures for oil spill
management. The geo-strategic location of India, as a central point to the Indian
Ocean, makes it imperative for the country to consider issues that have a
bearing on environmental pollution along the maritime zone. Currently about
70% of the world oil demand of 3400 Million Metric Tonnes per Annum
(MMTPA) is ferried through the Indian coastline. The increase in hydrocarbon
exploration and production, marine transport and the volatility of the situation
around the Indian coastline poses the threat of accident and consequent spillage
of oil in the Indian Maritime zone.

Farookh S. Bhatti
Std.IX/ Div. ‘C’
St. Theresa’s High School.

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