WSSD Report FINAL! - OGP

THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY FROM RIO TO JOHANNESBURG AND BEYOND
Oil spill prevention and response
Oil spill prevention and response
Background
Prevention of oil spills is of paramount importance
to the oil and shipping industry. But
accidents will still happen despite all best
prevention efforts.Therefore, at the same time as
our industry works diligently towards minimizing
spills, it also remains well prepared to
respond to any spill that might occur. This is
why the oil and shipping industry gives the
highest priority to developing comprehensive
and well-rehearsed contingency plans that will
ensure a prompt response to anticipate, mitigate
and minimize the impact of oil spills. Such plans
must be sufficiently flexible to provide whatever
response is most appropriate to the nature of
operations, size of a spill and type of oil, as well
as differences in local geography, climate and
environmental sensitivities.An effective response
will hasten recovery of any damaged ecosystem.
At the same time, response options should be
sought to complement natural forces to the
fullest extent practicable.
Industry response
Since the 1970s, there has been a significant
reduction in the number of large oil spills from
tankers (see chart below).
In 1999 more than 3.2 billion barrels of oil
were delivered by tanker to the USA.
Less than 200 barrels of those were spilled.
This decline in spills can be attributed to the
successful preventive actions of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and the oil and
shipping industry. Industry, working through
their organizations IPIECA, OGP, the Oil
Companies International Marine Forum
(OCIMF), The International Tanker Owners
Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and the
International Association of Independent Tanker
Owners (INTERTANKO) and two intergovernmental
organizations (UNEP and IMO),
designed and broadcast numerous means to
prevent spills and to enhance preparedness and
response to improve the ability to recover spilt
oil and mitigate effects from spills.
Prevention
In the 1970s, IMO together with OCIMF,
introduced Traffic Separation Schemes designed
to control shipping in high traffic density areas.
Implementation proved a significant breakthrough
in preventing collisions.
Oil spills exceeding 700 tonnes, 1970–2000
number of spills
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
1970–79
24.1 spills per year
on average
1980–89
8.8 spills per year
on average
spills > 700 tonnes
10-year average
1990–99
7.3 spills per year
on average
0
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998
2000
Similarly, the oil and shipping industry, in cooperation
with the IMO, successfully raised the
standards of tanker construction and operation,
vessel management, and crew performance by
implementing international standards on ship
management and watch keeping. During the
past decade, OCIMF also recognized the need
for a centralized system of collecting and storing
data about vessels inspected by OCIMF
members. The Ship Inspection Report
programme (SIRE) was created to promote ship
safety by maintaining an accessible database and
making information available to all OCIMF
members. This database enables companies to
submit reports on the condition of tankers they
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