BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

Cpt. Klaus Schroh
Special Federal Unit for
Marine Pollution Control
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1.1
1.2
1.2.1
Response Strategies - Response Techniques - Aerial Surveillance
Response Strategies
Abstract
It is a prerequisite for any kind of oil pollution response to have a basic
knowledge on the base properties of oil, to determine the physical and chemical
changes that occur when oil is spilled into the sea surface. Ageing
and wheathering characteristics play a dominant role during the variations
of individual appearances. Depending on these factors different response
options can be choosen
- Do nothing
- mechanical recovery
- chemical treatment
- in-situ, burning
- bio-remediation
Preference should always be given to mechanical recovery, if the local surroundings
and the wheather circumstances are amenable for the application of
various techniques. The use of dispersants, sinking agents and absorbents
has to be minimized in the Baltic, its use is subject to authorisation by
competent national authorities in each individual case. In the Baltic the
final option of in-situ burning has never been a realistic option particularly
because this method is the most disputed one.
The effectiveness of bio-remediation makes progress but a variety of impactes
influence an efficient recovery or cleaning of polluted areas.
Consequently in the Baltic mechanical recovery with adaequate techniques
should always be given priority if the sea state and local obstacles do not
prevent the application of this method.
Fate of Marine Oil Spills
The fate of spilled crude oil differs between the forming of a very stable
water-in-oil-emulsion and a complete disappearance. The protection of individual
organisms, ecological and economic resources in the vicinity of the
slick and the marine environment as a whole are further factors determining
the strategy with its preparedness and priorities for imnediate response.
Properties of Oil
In considering the fate of spilled oil at sea, a distiction is frequently
made between non-persistent oils, which tend to disappear rapidly from the
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