Recently, a catastrophic oil spill in Peru caused an environmental disaster, resulting in the Peruvian government declaring a 90-day “environmental emergency” in coastal territories that suffered severe damages. The oil spill, instigated by freak waves linked to a volcanic eruption in Tonga, led to an uncontrollable release of 6,000 barrels of crude oil into the sea from a tanker owned by Spanish energy firm Repsol. The location of this incident was at the La Pampilla refinery, approximately 30 kilometers north of Peru’s capital Lima, in the Ventanilla district of the port city of Callao.
Understanding Freak Waves
Freak waves, also known as rogue waves, are often defined as waves double the significant wave height in an area, where the significant wave height is the average of the highest third of waves within a specific duration. Rogue waves pose severe threats to even the largest ships and oil rigs. These aren’t confined to just the Atlantic Ocean or North Sea but predominantly occur off South Africa’s southeast coast.
Overview of Oil Spills
An oil spill typically refers to any uncontrolled release of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment. Such spills can pollute the land, air, or water, but they predominantly occur in the ocean. Oil spills have escalated into a serious environmental issue, primarily due to increased petroleum exploration and production on continental shelves and the transportation of vast quantities of oils in vessels. Accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, storage facilities, and oil spills in rivers, bays, and the ocean are common causes.
Environmental Impacts of Oil Spills
Oil spills present severe hazards to indigenous populations depending on seafood and various forms of aquatic life. The oil prevents sufficient sunlight from filtering through the ocean surface and reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. Moreover, oil-coated birds and marine mammals may suffer hypothermia due to crude oil impacting their insulating and waterproofing properties. Ingested oil can also be toxic to affected animals, damaging their reproductive rate and habitat. Additionally, saltwater marshes and mangroves frequently endure damage from oil spills.
Economic Implications of Oil Spills
Oil spills also have significant economic implications. They can severely affect tourism and commerce if they foul beaches and populated shorelines. Power plants and other utilities relying on seawater for operations can be drastically impacted by oil spills. Following major oil spills, commercial fishing is often immediately suspended.
Remedies for Oil Spills
Various remedies can be used to mitigate the effects of oil spills. Bioremediation, involving bacteria like Paraperlucidibaca, Cycloclasticus, Oleispira, Thalassolituus Zhongshania, and others, can help remove several classes of contaminants. Additionally, floating barriers or booms can confine the spread of oil to allow recovery, removal, or dispersal. Devices called skimmers can physically separate spilled oil from the water surface. Various absorbent materials, or sorbents, and chemical dispersing agents can also be used to manage oil spills.
Related Laws in India
In India, although there are currently no laws specifically addressing oil spills and their environmental impacts, the country has implemented the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan of 1996 (NOS-DCP) to manage such situations. The Indian Coast Guard has been given the mandate to coordinate with state departments, ministries, port authorities, and environmental agencies for oil spill cleanup operations. Additionally, in 2015, India ratified the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunker Convention), which ensures adequate compensation for damage caused by oil spills and is administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).