Contingency Regulations and Oil Spill Preparedness in Norwegian Arctic Areas1

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 1203-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Kristian Bjerkemo

ABSTRACT Svalbard includes all landmasses between 74 and 81 degrees North and between 10 and 35 degrees east, as well as the sea inside a territorial boundary stretching out 4 nautical miles from land. Ice and snow permanently cover two thirds of this area. Svalbard is a very sensitive area in case of oil spill or chemical accidents. A lot of activities on Svalbard may lead to oil spill. Spills from tourist cruise vessels, coal carriers and tank farms may be the largest threat. The law and regulations in this area gives the authorities an opportunity to direct the different companies to prepared an oil spill contingency plan. Because of a large expansion of the coal shipment from Svea mines on Svalbard and that the sailing would take place in a very sensitive area, the authorities took decision to ask for an oil spill contingency plan. The shipment takes place from July to November during the “ice free” months. The responsible company worked out different reports such as a weathering study of different bunker oils, environmental risk analysis, emergency preparedness analysis, a report discussing safe shipment within the sensitive area and an oil spill contingency plan. Based on these reports, the responsible parties received further requirements including carrying out a training program, oil spill exercises and efforts to avoid ship grounding. One of the the challenges of oil spill contingency planning in an area like Svalbard is how to keep the organisation trained for every sailing season.

1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (02) ◽  
pp. 145-159
Author(s):  
Robert A. Levine

Although the best method for handling an oil spill is to prevent its occurrence, the risk of a significant oil spill, from either a tank or other vessel, is always present. When a spill does occur, a good spill contingency plan will help to limit the adverse effects of the spill. This paper discusses the contents and development of Spill Contingency Plans, with emphasis on experience gained during the cleanup of the Port Angeles spill. Information pertinent to and details from ARCO Marine Inc.'s Spill Contingency Plan have been included to aid interested parties in their endeavors to develop suitable contingency plans.


1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
G. N. Keith

The incidence of oil spillage from offshore exploration and production activities is comparatively low but the Santa Barbara and Chevron blowouts remind us of what can happen.There are two things each operator can do to help ensure he is prepared in the event of an emergency. First, a comprehensive inhouse contingency plan should be prepared before commencing operations in an area. The plan will ensure that adequate first-aid measures are on hand at all times and will go on to list the location and availability of additional assistance both in equipment and manpower.Second, the operator should be prepared to participate in the oil industry's National Oil Spills Action Plan. This plan is designed to ensure that the entire resources of the industry can be made available and effectively co-ordinated to combat an oil spill anywhere on the coast of Australia.


1985 ◽  
Vol 1985 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
John J. Gallagher ◽  
A. J. Heikamp

ABSTRACT The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP, Inc.) is installing a computerized oil spill contingency plan. The nature and operation of the LOOP, Inc. facilities raise unique difficulties that must be addressed in oil spill contingency planning for the system. The structure of the new computerized contingency plan, its application to the system, and the benefits derived from the plan are the subjects of this paper.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-289
Author(s):  
Sioned Blackburn

ABSTRACT Generic, broad-brushed Oil Spill Contingency Plans (OSCP) have given way to more operationally-focused and systematic, site-specific plans. These newer plans offer considerable advantage as planning and response tools to initiate and support the deployment of equipment on-site. However, significant logistical features are still often overlooked in the planning process, which both exercises and real incidents have demonstrated. These omissions can seriously impede rapid and effective responses. This paper reviews the logistical issues of various recent incidents and demonstrates the key features that should be considered at the contingency planning stage. Options for drop-in elements in an oil spill contingency plan, or a separate logistics plan, are also presented.


1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 (1) ◽  
pp. 319-324
Author(s):  
Wendy Craik

ABSTRACT If a large oil spill occurred in the Great Barrier Reef there would be significant environmental damage to an asset worth over $1 billion each year to the Australian economy. Preventing an oil spill from occurring is the best protection for the Great Barrier Reef To this end the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has been working closely with other agencies to reduce the risk of a spill. Measures taken to date include development of an oil spill contingency plan for the Great Barrier Reef, having the Reef declared the world's first Particularly Sensitive Area, introducing compulsory pilotage in parts of the reef, undertaking education and awareness campaigns and widely promoting the view that an emphasis on prevention is preferable to cleanup.


1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-219
Author(s):  
P. B. Ryan ◽  
D. J. S. Brown

ABSTRACT Oil spill contingency planning is concerned with the organization of preplanned responses to anticipated oil pollution emergencies in defined geographical areas. A major factor that must be considered when drafting any contingency plan is the support that can be expected from a variety of sources in times of emergency. Oil spills vary in both their magnitude and complexity and so do the responses to such incidents. It follows, therefore, that there is a tiered structure of oil spill contingency planning and response and that there is a corresponding tiering of sources of support. This paper identifies the various tiers of oil spill planning and response and reviews the external support relevant to each tier. The discussion base of this paper relates particularly to the ROPME sea area as defined herein but many of the observations will apply to other regions of the world where similar situations may be encountered.


1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Wayne Hollingsworth

ABSTRACT The two basic components of oil spill contingency planning are developing the plan and implementing the plan. An organization with an effective oil spill contingency plan will have considered both components. Armed with thick oil spill contingency plans, companies expect to be able to respond adequately to major oil spills. For several reasons, this expectation may be unrealistic. For example, the plans may incorporate inadequate appraisals of available response assets, they may have been developed merely to satisfy regulatory requirements, or they may fail to consider various spill scenarios. Plans based on unattainable or unrealistic expectations end up on the shelf collecting dust. Thus, one of the first things to consider in contingency planning is what the plan will be expected to do. Another factor in the effectiveness of a contingency plan is its format. Oil spill contingency plans that are comprehensive and easy to use are essential. It is useful to divide the plan into three major sections: response procedures, background information, and scenario development. The response procedures section should be relatively short and contain step-by-step procedures to be followed during a spill response. The background information section should contain the background information accumulated during the planning period. The scenario development section should contain the scenarios identified for various spill sizes. An excellent contingency plan is of limited value if it is not effectively implemented. Effective implementation requires that everyone in the response and planning organization know the company's ideas, policies, and strategies regarding oil spill response, understands his or her roles and responsibilities in preparing for and carrying out a response, and is committed to carrying out the program. Implementation is often difficult because it involves changing the organization's way of doing things. When the way an organization does business does not match a new program being implemented, leadership is required to match them, either by changing the way of doing business or by changing the program. Changing a new program could be as simple as making a decision. Changing the way an organization does business is a process and is usually very difficult, especially in a large, complex organization like an oil company.


1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klavs Bender ◽  
Robert Taylor

ABSTRACT In 1986, an oil contingency plan was developed for the Kingdom of Thailand. The plan includes several aspects, such as:Important fishing grounds, and breeding areas for species of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans of commercial valueAquaculture and mangrove forest areas along the coast of ThailandDistribution of coral reefAreas with rare and endangered reptiles and mammalsSocio-economic information, i.e. amenity beaches and other tourist areas, marine parks, seabird colonies, and industrial sitesDescription of wind patterns, surface current, seawater temperatures, and hydrocarbon levels in marine water and sedimentsAn assessment of the risk of oil pollution in Thai waters, including an evaluation of the frequency and size of a range of possible hydrocarbon releases in Thai waters The results of the study cover an evaluation of the existing oil spill control capabilities in Thailand as well as recommendations for a national oil spill contingency plan including organization, staffing, reporting, alarm and communication arrangements, oil spill control equipment, recommendations for training and exercises and a cost estimate for the implementation. A separate manual for oil spill combating operations has been developed as well.


1985 ◽  
Vol 1985 (1) ◽  
pp. 417-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Corbin ◽  
Gary L. Ott

ABSTRACT In the fall of 1983, the Third Coast Guard District began to coordinate contingency planning and develop a dispersant use decision process that would establish guidelines for considering and authorizing the use of chemical dispersants by Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) as an oil spill response alternative. Contingency planning covered three areas: Background and education, the what, why, and where of dispersants Water basin tasking, who does what Communications, how to share information This paper examines each of the three corresponding study phases and shows how a final dispersant use decision process was achieved through incorporating each phase into the Regional Contingency Plan (RCP).


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-168
Author(s):  
Peter Mark Taylor ◽  
Andrew Olleveant ◽  
John Spink ◽  
Mike Osborne ◽  
Ali Onder

ABSTRACT Oil industry alliances bring benefits in various fields, including emergency planning. The benefits will include consistency in oil spill response plans and procedures, plus potential cost savings. Government, organisations and groups involved will appreciate a single and comprehensive consultative process. Time and money will be saved, plan formats will be consistent and there will be less scope for confusion. Partnership building will be stronger and more effective. This paper will use a case study of cooperative oil spill contingency planning in the south-west Atlantic to illustrate these points. The Falkland Islands archipelago lies in the south-west Atlantic, approximately 400 km east of the tip of the South American mainland. In 1996 the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) undertook its first round of oil exploration licensing and awarded acreage. Four of the successful operating companies formed the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA). This co-operation extended to a number of areas, including a joint approach to oil spill contingency planning. Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) worked with FOSA to produce a generic oil spill contingency plan, to function for all the companies and differ only in its emergency contact section. The contingency planning process closely followed the guidelines promulgated by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA, 1991) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO, 1995). A key factor was liaison with groups on the Islands and interfacing with the new Falkland Islands national oil spill contingency plan, which this paper will introduce.


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