U.S. Navy Ship Salvage Manual Volume 6 - Oil Spill Response

S0300-A6-MAN-060frequently from skimmers and containment boom into reception facilities. Dracones, tank bargesor other temporary receptacles must be near the skimming operations. Otherwise, oil recoveryoperations must stop while skimmers travel to and from a discharge facility.A continuous skimming operation must have a quick and routine procedure to dispose of collectedoil and oily debris. Oiled seaweed and other trash is usually retained onboard skimmersafter it is separated from recovered oil. Skimmers recover large quantities of this material in areaswith significant amounts of marine vegetation. Oily debris must be collected from skimmers andtaken to disposal sites regularly. Chapter 7 discusses the final disposal of oil and oily debris.3-5.1.5 Dispersal. If left alone, crude oil and heavy bunker fuel residues will form tarry globs oremulsify into a mousse after the light ends have evaporated. The tar or mousse will coalesce intothick layers, retarding the natural deterioration of the oil. The rate of degradation of the oil by biologicaland chemical processes can be increased if the exposed surface area is enlarged by dispersion.The oil mass can be dispersed by agitation (prop wash, water spray, etc.) or by chemicaldispersants.The decision to disperse an oil spill rests with local regulatory officials. Dispersal is not usual innear shore waters, because most of the oil reaches the shore before it deteriorates. The use of dispersantsnear shore can compound the problem by adding still more chemicals to the environmentand the oil will only merge again upon reaching shore. Many chemical dispersants are themselvesenvironmental hazards; their use is subject to approval by environmental authorities, including theCoast Guard designated Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC).For effectiveness, dispersants are deployed before oil weathers, i.e., as early as possible. Aircraftor boats deploy dispersants depending upon the volume of dispersant and the time to reach thespill site. Dispersant application must be coordinated with skimmer and containment boom operationsso personnel and equipment remain clear of areas where chemical dispersants are to beapplied. Although the Navy neither stockpiles nor uses dispersants, Navy personnel must sometimescoordinate with deployment of dispersants. Chemical dispersants and their use are discussedin Chapter 6.3-5.2 Safety. Response to large spills, particularly light distillate or crude oil spills, must includean awareness of the fire and explosion potential of the slick or damaged vessel given the righttemperature and atmospheric conditions. Spill recovery is dirty, slippery work and involves workingwith moving machinery, heavy rigging, operations at the waters edge and exposure to potentiallytoxic petroleum products. Spill responders may also be exposed to inclement weather orextremes of temperature. Safety of response workers and personnel aboard damaged vessels mustbe safeguarded by adherence to appropriate safety precautions, including, but not limited to:• Restriction of smoking, open flames and hot work in the vicinity of volatile slicks andruptured tanks, on tank decks during lightering and on tankers whose inert gas systemis not functioning.• Use of appropriate protective clothing, such as hardhats, steel-toed boots, coveralls,gloves, eye protection, life preservers, etc.3-17